Mazda 6 (2004)
2004 Mazda 6
CarHunch analysed 14,658 real MOT records for the 2004 Mazda 6.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2004 Mazda 6 passes its MOT first time in just 73.2% of cases, well below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning quarter of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during their test history—a significant red flag for potential buyers. Petrol and diesel variants perform virtually identically (73.0% and 73.4% pass rates respectively), so fuel type won't help you avoid the reliability issues here.
At 20 years old, these cars are running around 75,000–85,000 miles on average, which is reasonable for age, but they're averaging 3.67 failures and 15.3 advisories per test—well above what you'd expect from a car of this age and mileage. Before buying, insist on a full service history and an independent pre-purchase inspection focusing on the brake system, suspension, and electrical components, since high advisory counts typically flag wear in these areas.
The 2004 Mazda 6 has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 14,658 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 14,658 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
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 14,658 Mazda 6 cars.
Before you buy a 2004 Mazda 6
Based on MOT data from 14,658 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
25.1% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (62%) | 9,149 | 73.1% | 3.98 |
| Diesel (37%) | 5,493 | 73.4% | 3.15 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 158,495 Mazda 6 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Mazda 6 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.
Half of all 2004 Mazda 6 vehicles fall between 60,646 and 92,869 miles.
2004 Mazda 6 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2004 Mazda 6s are still active.
Numbers are declining — 650 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2004 Mazda 6 stacks up against a rival.