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

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 Cube?

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 Cube?

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 Cube vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% 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 Cube reliable?

Based on MOT data from 440 vehicles, the 2004 Nissan Cube has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.4%, 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 Cube?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Nissan Cube are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (59.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.3% 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 Nissan Cube?

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 Cube (2004)

440 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Nissan Cube

CarHunch analysed 440 real MOT records for the 2004 Nissan Cube. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

Moderate sample. 440 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2004 Nissan Cube passes its first MOT just below the UK average at 77.4%, which is a minor concern—but the real red flag here is that 33.9% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects, well above the typical threshold. This suggests structural or safety issues are common in this cohort and should weigh heavily in your decision.

These Cubes are carrying around 111,500 miles on average, which is reasonable for a 20-year-old car, yet they're still averaging 3.17 failures and 14.4 advisories per test—indicating age-related wear is catching up quickly. Before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the chassis, suspension and braking system, as these are likely where the dangerous defects are emerging.

The 2004 Nissan Cube has a decent first-time pass rate (77.4%), 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

77.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

33.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.18

Over 12.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

109k

Middle half: 80k–141k

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 14.4 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 440 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 440 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 59.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

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

Tyre wear 26.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · 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 19.1%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Suspension & steering 16.7%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

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 440 Nissan Cube cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Nissan Cube

Based on MOT data from 440 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.9% 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 (98%)	433	77.3%	3.21

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,588 Nissan Cube vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 36%

1,292

Silver 14%

503

Black 12.8%

460

Blue 11%

396

Grey 9.4%

337

Brown 4.5%

161

Red 2.9%

103

Green 2.5%

Purple 2%

Cream 1.7%

Maroon 1.6%

Orange 1.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Nissan Cube 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.

108,691

typical

79,919

low mileage

140,986

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Nissan Cube vehicles fall between 79,919 and 140,986 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,919 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.

✓ 79,919–140,986 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Nissan Cubes sit.

⚠ Over 190,331 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 Cube — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 65% of 2004 Nissan Cubes are still active.

205 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 65% 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

12.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.18

Avg failures per vehicle

14.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing