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

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 Sonata?

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 Sonata?

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 Sonata vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

27% 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 Sonata reliable?

Based on MOT data from 459 vehicles, the 2004 Hyundai Sonata has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.5%, 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 Sonata?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Hyundai Sonata are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.9% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (57.2% 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 Sonata?

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 Sonata (2004)

459 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Hyundai Sonata

CarHunch analysed 459 real MOT records for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 459 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Hyundai Sonata trails the UK average by 2.5 percentage points with a 77.5% first-time pass rate, and that's compounded by a concerning 27.2% of vehicles having recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above the typical threshold. This combination suggests reliability issues that go beyond minor wear, making it a riskier proposition than most cars of this age.

These Sonatae are running relatively light at 58,421 miles median (suggesting lower-use examples in the sample), yet still averaging 3.24 failures and 18.6 advisories per test, pointing to systemic maintenance gaps rather than mileage abuse. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on braking, suspension, and electrical systems—the fact that nearly a third have flagged dangerous defects means the weak spots are real and worth hunting for.

The 2004 Hyundai Sonata has a decent first-time pass rate (77.5%), 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

77.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

27.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.24

Over 13.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

58k

Middle half: 46k–76k

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 18.6 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 459 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 459 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 59.5%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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.

Brake wear 57.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Other issues 21%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

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 459 Hyundai Sonata cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Hyundai Sonata

Based on MOT data from 459 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.2% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,082 Hyundai Sonata vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 28.7%

2,323

Blue 18.3%

1,482

Green 15.1%

1,223

Red 14.1%

1,143

Grey 14%

1,134

Black 5%

402

White 2.6%

209

Gold 0.8%

Purple 0.8%

Beige 0.2%

Maroon 0.2%

Brown 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Hyundai Sonata 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.

58,421

typical

46,205

low mileage

76,195

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Hyundai Sonata vehicles fall between 46,205 and 76,195 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 46,205 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.

✓ 46,205–76,195 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Hyundai Sonatas sit.

⚠ Over 102,863 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 Sonata — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 8% of 2004 Hyundai Sonatas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 26 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (8% 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

13.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.24

Avg failures per vehicle

18.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing