Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer?

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 Mitsubishi Lancer?

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 Mitsubishi Lancer?

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.

Is the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,240 vehicles, the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.5%, 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 Mitsubishi Lancer?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.8% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (45.1% 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 Mitsubishi Lancer?

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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Mitsubishi Lancer (2004)

1,240 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

CarHunch analysed 1,240 real MOT records for the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. 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 Mitsubishi Lancer passes its MOT first time in 85.5% of cases, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, and only 9.8% of these cars ever develop a dangerous defect—well below the threshold for serious concern. This is a genuinely reliable performer for its age.

At around 50,000 miles median, these cars have been driven reasonably hard but not excessively for their nearly two decades on the road. The average of 1.84 failures per test and 8.2 advisories suggests wear-and-tear issues are normal rather than structural, so budget for typical maintenance (brakes, suspension, fluids) rather than major repairs; get a pre-purchase inspection to check those advisories haven't been ignored.

The 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (85.5% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

85.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

9.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.84

Over 11.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 34k–66k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 8.2 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 1,240 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 1,240 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 52.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 45.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · …

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

Other issues 16.1%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Oil leak, but not excessive

Wipers & washers 13.1%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 1,240 Mitsubishi Lancer cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

Based on MOT data from 1,240 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.8% 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%)	1,232	85.5%	1.85

Colour Breakdown

Based on 33,002 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 27.6%

9,103

Black 16.1%

5,311

Blue 15.2%

5,009

Grey 13.5%

4,460

White 12.8%

4,230

Red 11.6%

3,834

Yellow 1.4%

450

Green 1%

320

Purple 0.3%

105

Brown 0.3%

100

Orange 0.2%

Gold 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer 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.

49,889

typical

33,935

low mileage

65,617

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles fall between 33,935 and 65,617 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 33,935 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.

✓ 33,935–65,617 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mitsubishi Lancers sit.

⚠ Over 88,582 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 51% of 2004 Mitsubishi Lancers are still active.

328 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 51% of the peak remain.

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

11.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.84

Avg failures per vehicle

8.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mitsubishi Lancer: All Lancer years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer stacks up against a rival.

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