Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Honda Hr 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 Hr 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 Hr 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 Hr V vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% 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 Hr V reliable?

Based on MOT data from 794 vehicles, the 2004 Honda Hr V 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 Hr V?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Honda Hr V are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.6% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (56.8% 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 Hr 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 Hr V (2004)

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

2004 Honda Hr V

CarHunch analysed 794 real MOT records for the 2004 Honda Hr 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 HR-V's first-time pass rate of 78.3% sits slightly below the UK average of 80%, but the real concern here is that nearly one in three of these vehicles (32.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above what you'd typically see. This suggests structural or safety issues that go beyond cosmetic wear, making a pre-purchase inspection essential.

At 65,470 miles on average, these cars are running fairly typical mileage for their age, but the 4 failures per vehicle and 19 advisories tell you they're accumulating problems steadily. Before buying, have a trusted mechanic specifically check the suspension, brakes, and undercarriage—the high dangerous defect rate points to these as weak spots on this generation.

The 2004 Honda Hr V has a decent first-time pass rate (78.3%), 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

78.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

32.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.04

Over 17 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

64k

Middle half: 47k–82k

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 19.2 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 794 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 794 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 58.4%

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 56.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Brake wear 36.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Wipers & washers 17.7%

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Suspension & steering 17.5%

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint · 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 794 Honda Hr V cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Honda Hr V

Based on MOT data from 794 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.4% 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%)	792	78.3%	4.04

Colour Breakdown

Based on 47,709 Honda Hr V vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 26.1%

12,431

Black 20.8%

9,905

Silver 18.4%

8,778

White 11%

5,227

Grey 10%

4,794

Red 6.7%

3,185

Green 3.1%

1,465

Bronze 2.2%

1,071

Yellow 1.6%

742

Purple 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Orange 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Honda Hr 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.

64,311

typical

47,481

low mileage

81,652

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Honda Hr V vehicles fall between 47,481 and 81,652 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,481 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.

✓ 47,481–81,652 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Honda Hr Vs sit.

⚠ Over 110,230 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 Hr V — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 28% of 2004 Honda Hr Vs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 181 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.
* 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

4.04

Avg failures per vehicle

19.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing