Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Hyundai Elantra?

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 Hyundai Elantra?

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 Hyundai Elantra?

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 Hyundai Elantra vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% 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 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

Based on MOT data from 634 vehicles, the 2004 Hyundai Elantra has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71%, 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 Hyundai Elantra?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Hyundai Elantra are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (101% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.6% 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 Hyundai Elantra?

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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Hyundai Elantra (2004)

634 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71% first-time pass rate

2004 Hyundai Elantra

CarHunch analysed 634 real MOT records for the 2004 Hyundai Elantra. 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 Hyundai Elantra passes its MOT first time in only 71% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and more than a third of vehicles analysed (36.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuine concern for safety. The diesel versions, which make up the vast majority of this cohort, perform at the same weak level with a 70.8% pass rate.

At around 72,000 miles average, these cars are showing their age with an average of 4.2 failures per test and a substantial 17.2 advisories, indicating widespread wear across multiple systems. If you're considering one, budget for repairs before purchase and plan for regular maintenance post-buy; the high failure and dangerous defect rates suggest you'll need a thorough pre-purchase inspection and shouldn't expect trouble-free motoring.

The 2004 Hyundai Elantra has a below-average first-time pass rate (71% 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

71%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

36.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.18

Over 13.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 54k–89k

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 17.2 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 634 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 634 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 101%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · 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 62.3%

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 29.2%

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Exhaust & emissions 24.1%

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine

Lighting 22.6%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

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 634 Hyundai Elantra cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Hyundai Elantra

Based on MOT data from 634 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.1% 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
Diesel (93%)	592	70.8%	4.25

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,029 Hyundai Elantra vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 45%

2,716

Blue 24.2%

1,461

Red 17.9%

1,081

Green 8.6%

516

White 1.8%

107

Black 0.8%

Grey 0.8%

Maroon 0.2%

Gold 0.2%

Purple 0.1%

Beige 0.1%

Bronze 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Hyundai Elantra 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.

69,402

typical

53,652

low mileage

88,796

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Hyundai Elantra vehicles fall between 53,652 and 88,796 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 53,652 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.

✓ 53,652–88,796 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Hyundai Elantras sit.

⚠ Over 119,874 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Hyundai Elantra — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 2004 Hyundai Elantras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 33 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (7% 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

13.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.18

Avg failures per vehicle

17.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Hyundai Elantra: All Elantra years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006

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See how the 2004 Hyundai Elantra stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on