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

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 Navara?

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 Navara?

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 Navara 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 Navara reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,325 vehicles, the 2004 Nissan Navara has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.6%, 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 Navara?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Nissan Navara are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (55.4% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (53.1% 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 Nissan Navara?

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 Navara (2004)

5,325 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.6% first-time pass rate

2004 Nissan Navara

CarHunch analysed 5,325 real MOT records for the 2004 Nissan Navara. 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 Nissan Navara passes its MOT first time only 74.6% of the time, notably below the UK average of 80%, and nearly a third of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects—a significant concern for any buyer. The diesel-only cohort shows no variation, so the weakness is consistent across the range.

These Navaras are running at 80,725 miles median with 3.98 average failures per test, suggesting accumulated wear is catching up with the model's now 20-year-old design. The high advisory count of 24.2 per vehicle indicates minor issues are numerous; budget for regular maintenance and get a full pre-purchase inspection, paying close attention to suspension, braking, and exhaust systems.

The 2004 Nissan Navara has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.6% 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

74.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

31%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.98

Over 14.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

81k

Middle half: 63k–100k

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 24.2 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 5,325 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 5,325 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 56.6%

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.

Brake wear 53.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · 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.

Suspension & steering 26.3%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint · Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint · …

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

Other issues 22.7%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Lighting 18.9%

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

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 5,325 Nissan Navara cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Nissan Navara

Based on MOT data from 5,325 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31% 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 (100%)	5,300	74.6%	3.99

Colour Breakdown

Based on 125,950 Nissan Navara vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 32.8%

41,345

Grey 22.8%

28,722

Silver 18%

22,708

Blue 10.1%

12,687

White 9.9%

12,506

Red 2.8%

3,523

Yellow 1.4%

1,777

Green 1.2%

1,449

Bronze 0.6%

716

Beige 0.3%

343

Orange 0.1%

111

Brown 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Nissan Navara 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.

80,725

typical

63,321

low mileage

99,882

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Nissan Navara vehicles fall between 63,321 and 99,882 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 63,321 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.

✓ 63,321–99,882 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Nissan Navaras sit.

⚠ Over 134,840 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 Navara — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 16% of 2004 Nissan Navaras are still active.

Numbers are declining — 579 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (16% 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

14.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.98

Avg failures per vehicle

24.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on