Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Nissan Almera?

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 Nissan Almera?

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 Nissan Almera?

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 Nissan Almera vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 Nissan Almera reliable?

Based on MOT data from 25,268 vehicles, the 2004 Nissan Almera has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.5%, 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 Nissan Almera?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Nissan Almera are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.7% 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 Nissan Almera?

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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Nissan Almera (2004)

25,268 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Nissan Almera

CarHunch analysed 25,268 real MOT records for the 2004 Nissan Almera. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Nissan Almera falls below the UK average with a 75.5% first-time pass rate, and nearly a third of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a significant concern that suggests structural or safety issues are common. Petrol versions hold up marginally better at 75.7% versus diesel at 72.8%, though neither inspires confidence.

These Almeras are showing relatively modest mileage for their age (median 59,382 miles), yet they're averaging over 4 failures per test and racking up 16.9 advisories, indicating age-related wear is catching up fast. Before viewing one, budget for imminent remedial work and consider paying for a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and rust—the typical culprits pulling these vehicles down.

The 2004 Nissan Almera has a decent first-time pass rate (75.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.08

Over 15.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

59k

Middle half: 47k–73k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.9 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 25,268 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 25,268 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 75.4%

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 41.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · …

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

Other issues 25.3%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive · Oil leak

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 25,268 Nissan Almera cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

75.7%

Petrol

23,467 vehicles

72.8%

Diesel

1,780 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Nissan Almera

Based on MOT data from 25,268 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.8% 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 (93%)	23,467	75.7%	4.07
Diesel (7%)	1,780	72.8%	4.25

Colour Breakdown

Based on 231,155 Nissan Almera vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.9%

57,647

Silver 24.1%

55,614

Red 19%

43,879

Grey 10.9%

25,283

Green 10.8%

25,050

Black 5.6%

12,852

White 2.7%

6,220

Gold 1.4%

3,277

Beige 0.3%

654

Orange 0.1%

339

Turquoise 0.1%

183

Maroon 0.1%

157

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Nissan Almera 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.

59,382

typical

46,695

low mileage

73,463

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Nissan Almera vehicles fall between 46,695 and 73,463 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 46,695 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.

✓ 46,695–73,463 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Nissan Almeras sit.

⚠ Over 99,175 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Nissan Almera — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 13% of 2004 Nissan Almeras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 2,717 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (13% 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

15.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.08

Avg failures per vehicle

16.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Almera: All Almera years → Which year to buy? →

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Nissan Almera stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing