Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Kia Mentor?

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 Kia Mentor?

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 Kia Mentor?

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 Kia Mentor vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

21% 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 Kia Mentor reliable?

Based on MOT data from 108 vehicles, the 2004 Kia Mentor has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.7%, 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 Kia Mentor?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Kia Mentor are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (86.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (68.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (61.3% 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 Kia Mentor?

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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Kia Mentor (2004)

108 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Kia Mentor

CarHunch analysed 108 real MOT records for the 2004 Kia Mentor. 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 Compare Models

The 2004 Kia Mentor falls behind the UK average with a first-time pass rate of 72.7% versus the national 80%, which is a meaningful gap suggesting these cars tend to need work before they'll pass their test. A concerning 21.3% have recorded dangerous defects over their lifetime, putting potential safety issues firmly on the buyer's radar.

These Mentors are averaging around 48,900 miles—quite low for their age—yet still rack up 2.89 failures per vehicle and 11.6 advisories, pointing to age-related wear rather than hard use. If you're considering one, factor in that you're likely to face repair costs before MOT, and get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on brake condition, suspension, and emissions system integrity.

We have limited data for the 2004 Kia Mentor — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

72.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

21.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.89

Over 9.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

47k

Middle half: 34k–63k

For context

These stats describe 108 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 108 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 86.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Tyre wear 68.9%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 37.7%

Oil leak

Lighting 29.2%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced · …

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 108 Kia Mentor cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Kia Mentor

Based on MOT data from 108 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.3% 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%)	107	72.4%	2.92

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Kia Mentor 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.

47,105

typical

33,957

low mileage

63,228

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Kia Mentor vehicles fall between 33,957 and 63,228 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 33,957 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.

✓ 33,957–63,228 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Kia Mentors sit.

⚠ Over 85,357 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Kia Mentor — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2004 Kia Mentors are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 (23% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

9.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.89

Avg failures per vehicle

11.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Kia Mentor: All Mentor years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Kia Mentor stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on