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

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 Patrol?

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 Patrol?

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 Patrol vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% 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 Patrol reliable?

Based on MOT data from 570 vehicles, the 2004 Nissan Patrol has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.9%, 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 Patrol?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Nissan Patrol are: Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (68.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (62.9% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (49.3% 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 Patrol?

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 Patrol (2004)

570 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.9% first-time pass rate

2004 Nissan Patrol

CarHunch analysed 570 real MOT records for the 2004 Nissan Patrol. 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 Patrol falls slightly below the UK average with a 76.7% first-time pass rate, and there's a real concern here: nearly one in three of these vehicles (31.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and a red flag for buyers. The diesel engine option, which makes up virtually all the market for this model, passes at 76.9%—essentially matching the overall rate.

These Patrols are typically running around 87,000 miles on average, which is reasonable for a 20-year-old vehicle, but they're racking up an average of 3.74 failures and 24 advisories per test, indicating persistent wear issues across multiple systems rather than one specific problem. If you're considering buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the engine bay, cooling system, and brakes—expect remedial work and budget accordingly.

The 2004 Nissan Patrol has a decent first-time pass rate (76.9%), 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

76.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.74

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

85k

Middle half: 60k–107k

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 24 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 570 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 570 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 68.1%

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · …

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

Other issues 49.3%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Brake wear 35.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Tyre wear 33.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.

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 570 Nissan Patrol cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Nissan Patrol

Based on MOT data from 570 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.6% 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 (99%)	565	77%	3.73

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,894 Nissan Patrol vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 23.1%

1,820

Blue 18.9%

1,493

Red 16.9%

1,333

Silver 11.6%

919

Black 10.4%

823

White 8.6%

681

Grey 7.2%

571

Gold 1.2%

Bronze 1.2%

Maroon 0.3%

Brown 0.3%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Nissan Patrol 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.

84,676

typical

60,484

low mileage

106,867

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Nissan Patrol vehicles fall between 60,484 and 106,867 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,484 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.

✓ 60,484–106,867 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Nissan Patrols sit.

⚠ Over 144,270 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 Patrol — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 46% of 2004 Nissan Patrols are still active.

Numbers are declining — 167 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (46% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.74

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing