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

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 Fr V?

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 Fr V?

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 Fr V vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

51% 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 Fr V reliable?

Based on MOT data from 627 vehicles, the 2004 Honda Fr V has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75%, 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 Fr V?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Honda Fr V are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (87.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (80.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.4% 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 Fr V?

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 Fr V (2004)

627 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75% first-time pass rate

2004 Honda Fr V

CarHunch analysed 627 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Fr V. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Honda FR-V has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75%, which trails the UK average of 80% and signals reliability below the norm for its age. More concerning, just over half of these vehicles (50.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making this a genuine buyer concern worth investigating on any example you're considering.

These FR-Vs are averaging 87,412 miles, which is reasonable for a 20-year-old car, but they're racking up an average of 4.82 failures and 30.4 advisories per test—suggesting deferred maintenance is common and compound problems develop quickly once things start going wrong. Budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on brake safety and suspension components, and factor in higher-than-average repair costs if you go ahead.

The 2004 Honda Fr V has a decent first-time pass rate (75%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

50.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.82

Over 18.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 71k–102k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 30.4 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 627 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 627 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 87.7%

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

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

Tyre wear 80.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

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

Other issues 66.5%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Suspension & steering 33%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · …

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

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 627 Honda Fr V cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Honda Fr V

Based on MOT data from 627 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 50.7% 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%)	622	75%	4.8

Colour Breakdown

Based on 14,467 Honda Fr V vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 35.3%

5,100

Black 21.4%

3,097

Silver 20.7%

2,998

Blue 19.8%

2,870

Red 2.6%

377

White 0.1%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Honda Fr V 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.

85,934

typical

70,907

low mileage

102,305

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Honda Fr V vehicles fall between 70,907 and 102,305 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 70,907 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.

✓ 70,907–102,305 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Honda Fr Vs sit.

⚠ Over 138,111 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 Fr V — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2004 Honda Fr Vs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 95 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

18.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.82

Avg failures per vehicle

30.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Honda Fr V stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing