Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano?

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 Mercedes Benz Viano?

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 Mercedes Benz Viano?

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 Mercedes Benz Viano vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

38% 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 Mercedes Benz Viano reliable?

Based on MOT data from 735 vehicles, the 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.1%, 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 Mercedes Benz Viano?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano are: Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (71.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (67.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64.1% 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 Mercedes Benz Viano?

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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Mercedes Benz Viano (2004)

735 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.1% first-time pass rate

2004 Mercedes Benz Viano

CarHunch analysed 735 real MOT records for the 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano. 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 Mercedes-Benz Viano is below the UK average on first-time MOT passes at 73.1% versus 80%, and this is a genuine concern: 38.2% of examples have recorded dangerous defects, which is significantly high and suggests structural or safety issues are common in this age cohort. Diesel variants, which make up 76% of the sample, perform slightly worse at 71.8% pass rate compared to petrol at 77.4%.

At an average mileage of 110,130 miles, these vehicles are reasonably worn for their age, yet they're still picking up nearly 5 failures per test and 26 advisories on average—pointing to cumulative wear on suspension, braking, and electrical systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, have a trusted independent inspection done before purchase and budget for repairs, particularly around brake and steering components where dangerous defects cluster.

The 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.1% 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

73.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

38.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.89

Over 16.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

117k

Middle half: 86k–153k

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 26.4 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 735 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 735 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 71.2%

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Tyre wear 64.1%

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 39%

Oil leak, but not excessive · 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 735 Mercedes Benz Viano cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano

Based on MOT data from 735 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.2% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (76%)	558	71.8%	5.49
Petrol (24%)	175	77.4%	2.95

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,221 Mercedes Benz Viano vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 53.5%

4,400

Black 31.2%

2,566

Grey 5.9%

483

Blue 3.4%

281

White 2.6%

217

Red 1.7%

136

Brown 0.6%

Green 0.5%

Purple 0.3%

Maroon 0.2%

Yellow 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano 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.

117,169

typical

85,835

low mileage

152,600

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mercedes Benz Viano vehicles fall between 85,835 and 152,600 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 85,835 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.

✓ 85,835–152,600 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mercedes Benz Vianos sit.

⚠ Over 206,010 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mercedes Benz Viano — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 2004 Mercedes Benz Vianos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 226 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% 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

16.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.89

Avg failures per vehicle

26.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Viano: All Viano years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

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Buyer beware — pass it on