Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Piaggio Porter?

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 Piaggio Porter?

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 Piaggio Porter?

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 Piaggio Porter vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% 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 Piaggio Porter reliable?

Based on MOT data from 116 vehicles, the 2004 Piaggio Porter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.6%, 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 Piaggio Porter?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Piaggio Porter are: Service brake: efficiency below requirements (91.9% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (44.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (43.6% 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 Piaggio Porter?

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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Piaggio Porter (2004)

116 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.6% first-time pass rate

2004 Piaggio Porter

CarHunch analysed 116 real MOT records for the 2004 Piaggio Porter. 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 Compare Models

The 2004 Piaggio Porter has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.5%, significantly below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 28% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a serious concern for any prospective buyer. This is a van that needs careful pre-purchase inspection and close attention to safety-critical systems.

These Porters are running relatively modest mileage for their age (median 41,330 miles), yet they're averaging nearly 4 failures and 15 advisories per test, suggesting maintenance neglect rather than high-mileage wear. Before purchasing one, get a pre-MOT inspection from a specialist familiar with Piaggio vans, focusing on brakes, suspension, and structural integrity.

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

⚠️ 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

71.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

28.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.99

Over 13.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

41k

Middle half: 27k–51k

For context

These stats describe 116 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 116 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 91.9%

Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside rear brake recording little or no effort · Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort · …

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

Tyre wear 44.7%

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

Suspension & steering 30.1%

Steering column top bearing slightly worn

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

Other issues 29.4%

Horn not working · Oil leak

Wipers & washers 27.5%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Lighting 19.5%

Offside Headlamp aim too low · Offside Headlamp aim too high

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 116 Piaggio Porter cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Piaggio Porter

Based on MOT data from 116 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.5% 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 (59%)	69	70%	4.49

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Piaggio Porter 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.

41,330

typical

26,831

low mileage

50,985

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Piaggio Porter vehicles fall between 26,831 and 50,985 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,831 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.

✓ 26,831–50,985 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Piaggio Porters sit.

⚠ Over 68,829 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Piaggio Porter — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 26% of 2004 Piaggio Porters are still active.

Numbers are declining — 18 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (26% 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

3.99

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Piaggio Porter: All Porter years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Piaggio →

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Buyer beware — pass it on