Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Perodua Kenari?

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 Perodua Kenari?

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 Perodua Kenari?

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 Perodua Kenari reliable?

Based on MOT data from 241 vehicles, the 2004 Perodua Kenari has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.7%, 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 Perodua Kenari?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Perodua Kenari are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (36.3% 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 Perodua Kenari?

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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Perodua Kenari (2004)

241 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Perodua Kenari

CarHunch analysed 241 real MOT records for the 2004 Perodua Kenari. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Perodua Kenari passes its MOT on the first attempt 77.7% of the time, slightly below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars need a bit more attention than most vehicles their age. The dangerous defect rate of 15.8% is reasonably clean and shouldn't be a major concern for a buyer.

These Kenaris are running at just 37,525 miles on average—genuinely low mileage for a 20-year-old car—which explains the modest failure count of 3.1 issues per vehicle, though advisories are frequent at 12.4 per test, pointing to wear in minor components. Before purchase, have a pre-buy inspection focus on those advisory items (likely trim, lights, and suspension wear) to understand what maintenance lies ahead.

We have limited data for the 2004 Perodua Kenari — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

77.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

15.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.1

Over 13.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

37k

Middle half: 25k–47k

For context

These stats describe 241 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 241 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 51%

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.

Other issues 23.6%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Exhaust & emissions 20.9%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Wipers & washers 19.7%

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

Brake wear 17.4%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front 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.

Lighting 17.2%

Nearside Headlamp aim too low · Offside Headlamp aim too low · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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 241 Perodua Kenari cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Perodua Kenari

Based on MOT data from 241 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.8% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,966 Perodua Kenari vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 31.4%

617

Gold 27.6%

542

Blue 18.7%

368

Green 12.5%

245

Grey 9.2%

181

Purple 0.4%

Beige 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Perodua Kenari 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.

36,570

typical

25,481

low mileage

46,998

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Perodua Kenari vehicles fall between 25,481 and 46,998 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,481 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.

✓ 25,481–46,998 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Perodua Kenaris sit.

⚠ Over 63,447 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Perodua Kenari — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 15% of 2004 Perodua Kenaris are still active.

Numbers are declining — 26 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (15% 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

13.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.1

Avg failures per vehicle

12.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Perodua Kenari: All Kenari years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Perodua →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Perodua Kenari stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?