Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Rover Streetwise?

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 Rover Streetwise?

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 Rover Streetwise?

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 Rover Streetwise vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 Rover Streetwise reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,418 vehicles, the 2004 Rover Streetwise has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.5%, 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 Rover Streetwise?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Rover Streetwise are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (67.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.2% 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 Rover Streetwise?

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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Rover Streetwise (2004)

4,418 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.5% first-time pass rate

2004 Rover Streetwise

CarHunch analysed 4,418 real MOT records for the 2004 Rover Streetwise. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Rover Streetwise passes its MOT first time in 73.4% of cases, notably below the UK average of 80%, and one in five of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a genuine concern for safety-conscious buyers. Petrol models fare slightly better at 73.9% than diesels at 71.6%, but neither inspires confidence.

These cars are typically low-mileage for their age at around 48,500 miles median, yet they're racking up nearly four failures per test on average, suggesting age and wear rather than neglect are the real enemies. With 12.5 advisories per vehicle flagged, expect frequent minor repairs; if you're considering one, factor in a pre-purchase inspection by a Rover specialist to catch structural and suspension issues before they become MOT fails.

The 2004 Rover Streetwise has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.5% 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

73.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

22.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.86

Over 13.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 37k–61k

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 12.5 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 4,418 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 4,418 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 76.4%

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.

Brake wear 36.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel

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

Other issues 27.6%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 20%

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play · Nearside 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.

Lighting 19.9%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Wipers & washers 19.7%

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

Exhaust & emissions 18.7%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

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 4,418 Rover Streetwise cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

74%

Petrol

3,530 vehicles

71.6%

Diesel

887 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Rover Streetwise

Based on MOT data from 4,418 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.1% 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 (80%)	3,530	74%	3.72
Diesel (20%)	887	71.6%	4.44

Colour Breakdown

Based on 7,209 Rover Streetwise vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 31.1%

2,243

Silver 24.6%

1,776

Red 14.4%

1,040

Grey 13.4%

963

Green 9.3%

673

Black 5.3%

382

Yellow 1.4%

104

Orange 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Rover Streetwise 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.

48,585

typical

37,319

low mileage

61,291

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Rover Streetwise vehicles fall between 37,319 and 61,291 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 37,319 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.

✓ 37,319–61,291 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Rover Streetwises sit.

⚠ Over 82,742 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Rover Streetwise — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2004 Rover Streetwises are still active.

Numbers are declining — 190 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% 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

13.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.86

Avg failures per vehicle

12.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Rover Streetwise: All Streetwise years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2005 2006

Or browse all models: Rover →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Rover Streetwise stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on