Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Ford Ka?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Ford Ka?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Ford Ka?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Ford Ka vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Ford Ka reliable?

Based on MOT data from 50,593 vehicles, the 2004 Ford Ka has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.3%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Ford Ka?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Ford Ka are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (71.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Ford Ka?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Ford Ka (2004)

50,593 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Ford Ka

CarHunch analysed 50,593 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford Ka. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Ford Ka has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.9%, which is 12 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that reflects real reliability concerns. More worryingly, over a third of these cars (34.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, suggesting structural or safety issues are common enough to be a genuine buyer concern.

At nearly 48,000 miles on average, these Kas are quite well-used for their age, yet they're still racking up nearly five failures per test and almost 20 advisories, indicating age-related wear is catching up fast. If you're considering one, budget for regular repair work and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake and suspension components, where most of the dangerous defects typically cluster.

The 2004 Ford Ka has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.3% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

68.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

34.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.92

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

47k

Middle half: 36k–59k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.5 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 50,593 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 50,593 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 71.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 71.6%

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Brake wear 31%

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 23.4%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 50,593 Ford Ka cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Ford Ka

Based on MOT data from 50,593 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 34.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	50,541	68.3%	4.92

Colour Breakdown

Based on 676,350 Ford Ka vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.7%

167,140

Silver 20%

135,197

Red 18.1%

122,314

Black 17.5%

118,352

White 6.6%

44,483

Green 5.8%

39,238

Grey 3.2%

21,349

Purple 2.1%

14,037

Yellow 0.8%

5,211

Bronze 0.7%

4,801

Gold 0.5%

3,110

Pink 0.2%

1,118

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Ford Ka vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

47,094

typical

36,145

low mileage

58,932

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Ford Ka vehicles fall between 36,145 and 58,932 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,145 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 36,145–58,932 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Ford Kas sit.

⚠ Over 79,558 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Ford Ka — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2004 Ford Kas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 2,514 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.92

Avg failures per vehicle

19.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Ka: All Ka years → Which year to buy? →

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Ford Ka stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on