Honda Civic (2004)
2004 Honda Civic
CarHunch analysed 33,904 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Civic. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Honda Civic passes its MOT first time in 75.4% of cases, running 4.6 percentage points below the UK average — a modest shortfall, but worth noting. More concerning is that 40.4% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and should prompt a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
These Civics are sitting at a median 74,177 miles, reasonable for their age, yet they're averaging 4.75 failures and 26.2 advisories per test — suggesting cumulative wear and deferred maintenance are catching up. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work beyond just getting it through MOT, and factor in the dangerous-defect history by commissioning an independent pre-purchase check.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.1 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2004 Honda Civic
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 40.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Honda Civic
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (91%) | 30,830 | 75.6% | 4.78 |
| Diesel (8%) | 2,827 | 73.5% | 4.55 |
| Other (0%) | 101 | 77.6% | 3.06 |
| Electric (0%) | 88 | 77% | 4.02 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 47 | 76.3% | 4.94 |
| LPG (0%) | 8 | 78.7% | 4 |
| Fuel Cells (0%) | 2 | 76.3% | 4.5 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 70.6% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Honda Civic vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2004 Honda Civic vehicles fall between 57,647 and 90,965 miles.
2004 Honda Civic — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 8,569 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (28% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2004 Honda Civic
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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80.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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77.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
55.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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48.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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44.7%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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34.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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34.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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25%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Honda Civic?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.