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

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 Terracan?

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 Terracan?

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 Terracan vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

41% 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 Terracan reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,409 vehicles, the 2004 Hyundai Terracan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.5%, 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 Terracan?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Hyundai Terracan are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (63.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.3% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (46.3% 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 Terracan?

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 Terracan (2004)

1,409 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Hyundai Terracan

CarHunch analysed 1,409 real MOT records for the 2004 Hyundai Terracan. 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 Terracan passes its MOT first time in only 73.5% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 41% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for buyers. The diesel-only fleet shows no variance from the overall pass rate at 73.4%, so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

These Terracans are averaging around 82,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're accumulating serious problems: an average of 4.83 failures and 27.1 advisories per test suggest this model demands expensive remedial work. If you're considering one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on structural and brake safety, since the high dangerous defect rate points to issues that won't always be obvious.

The 2004 Hyundai Terracan has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.5% 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

73.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

41%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.83

Over 17.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

80k

Middle half: 65k–96k

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 27.1 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 1,409 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 1,409 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 63.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · 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 48.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front 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 38.5%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Suspension & steering 34.6%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Wheel bearing 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 1,409 Hyundai Terracan cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Hyundai Terracan

Based on MOT data from 1,409 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 41% 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 (100%)	1,403	73.4%	4.84

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,448 Hyundai Terracan vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 38.3%

1,704

Black 37%

1,645

Blue 10.5%

465

Grey 7.7%

342

Green 6.3%

282

White 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Hyundai Terracan 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.

79,639

typical

64,837

low mileage

96,056

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Hyundai Terracan vehicles fall between 64,837 and 96,056 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 64,837 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.

✓ 64,837–96,056 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Hyundai Terracans sit.

⚠ Over 129,675 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 Terracan — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 15% of 2004 Hyundai Terracans are still active.

Numbers are declining — 172 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (15% 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

17.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.83

Avg failures per vehicle

27.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Hyundai →

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Buyer beware — pass it on