Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Honda Elysion?

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 Honda Elysion?

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 Honda Elysion?

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 Honda Elysion vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 Honda Elysion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 140 vehicles, the 2004 Honda Elysion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Honda Elysion?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Honda Elysion are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (38.1% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (35.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.7% 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 Honda Elysion?

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.

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Honda Elysion (2004)

140 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.3% first-time pass rate

2004 Honda Elysion

CarHunch analysed 140 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Elysion. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 Compare Models

The 2004 Honda Elysion's 78.3% first-time pass rate is slightly below the UK average of 80%, but the real concern is that 38.6% of these vehicles have experienced a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels for a nearly 20-year-old model. This suggests buyers should treat any Elysion purchase as a high-risk proposition unless a recent, comprehensive MOT history and pre-purchase inspection are available.

At around 116,000 miles average, these Elysions show typical mileage for their age, but the pattern of failures matters: owners are averaging 2.16 failures per MOT and a notable 13.6 advisories per test, pointing to cumulative wear across multiple systems rather than isolated faults. Before buying, have a specialist inspect the braking, suspension, and steering components with particular care—the dangerous defect prevalence suggests these areas are deteriorating faster than in comparable vehicles.

We have limited data for the 2004 Honda Elysion — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

78.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

38.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.16

Over 8.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

120k

Middle half: 87k–145k

For context

These stats describe 140 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 140 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 38.1%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Tyre wear 35.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Suspension & steering 34.6%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt · …

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

Other issues 27%

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 140 Honda Elysion cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Honda Elysion

Based on MOT data from 140 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.6% 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 (99%)	139	78.3%	2.17

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Honda Elysion 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.

119,761

typical

86,613

low mileage

145,315

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Honda Elysion vehicles fall between 86,613 and 145,315 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 86,613 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.

✓ 86,613–145,315 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Honda Elysions sit.

⚠ Over 196,175 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Honda Elysion — Still on the Road

Most 2004 Honda Elysions are still being driven.

84 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 79% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

8.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.16

Avg failures per vehicle

13.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Elysion: All Elysion years → Which year to buy? →

2006 2007 2008

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Honda Elysion stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing