Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Renault Espace?

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 Renault Espace?

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 Renault Espace?

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 Renault Espace vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 Renault Espace reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,908 vehicles, the 2004 Renault Espace has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.9%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Renault Espace?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Renault Espace are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (87.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (84.8% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (66.5% 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 Renault Espace?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Renault Espace (2004)

2,908 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.9% first-time pass rate

2004 Renault Espace

CarHunch analysed 2,908 real MOT records for the 2004 Renault Espace. 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

The 2004 Renault Espace is a genuine reliability concern: its 68.9% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, and a worrying 38.6% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history. Petrol and diesel variants perform identically poorly (both at 68.9%), so fuel choice won't help you avoid the problem.

These Espaces average 74,243 miles—reasonable for a 20-year-old family MPV—but they're riddled with issues: owners face an average of 4.37 failures and 15 advisories per test. If you're considering one, budget for significant remedial work before purchase and factor in ongoing maintenance costs, because most examples will need serious attention to pass their next MOT.

The 2004 Renault Espace has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.9% 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

68.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

38.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.37

Over 13.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 58k–91k

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 15 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 2,908 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 2,908 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 87.9%

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 51.7%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · …

Suspension & steering 48.1%

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) · Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play · Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play · …

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

Brake wear 45.5%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

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 2,908 Renault Espace cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Renault Espace

Based on MOT data from 2,908 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 38.7% 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 (78%)	2,276	68.9%	4.25
Petrol (22%)	627	68.8%	4.81

Colour Breakdown

Based on 52,774 Renault Espace vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 31.4%

16,580

Red 16.4%

8,635

Silver 15%

7,899

Green 14.6%

7,707

Grey 13.9%

7,356

White 2.9%

1,525

Black 2.5%

1,329

Beige 1.8%

933

Purple 1.3%

691

Maroon 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Renault Espace 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.

72,818

typical

57,741

low mileage

90,627

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Renault Espace vehicles fall between 57,741 and 90,627 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,741 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.

✓ 57,741–90,627 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Renault Espaces sit.

⚠ Over 122,346 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Renault Espace — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2004 Renault Espaces are still active.

Numbers are declining — 100 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* 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

13.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.37

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Renault Espace: All Espace years → Which year to buy? →

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Renault →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Renault Espace stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on