Subaru Impreza (2004)
2004 Subaru Impreza
CarHunch analysed 4,400 real MOT records for the 2004 Subaru Impreza.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2004 Subaru Impreza's 80.6% first-time pass rate matches the UK average almost exactly, but nearly a quarter of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—that's a legitimate buyer concern worth investigating on any used example. The median mileage of 71,299 miles is reasonable for a 20-year-old car, though the average of 3.34 failures per vehicle suggests these cars tend to accumulate multiple issues rather than just one or two.
Most of these Imprezas are coming through MOT with significant advisory lists (16.3 on average), which typically means wear-and-tear costs add up steadily. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers suspension and cooling system condition, then budget for staged repairs rather than expecting a trouble-free year.
The 2004 Subaru Impreza passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (80.6%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.
These stats describe 4,400 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 4,400 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
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 4,400 Subaru Impreza cars.
Before you buy a 2004 Subaru Impreza
Based on MOT data from 4,400 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
24.3% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 4,380 | 80.6% | 3.35 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 71,722 Subaru Impreza vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Subaru Impreza 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.
Half of all 2004 Subaru Impreza vehicles fall between 53,899 and 89,813 miles.
2004 Subaru Impreza — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 49% of 2004 Subaru Imprezas are still active.
Numbers are declining — 1,543 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2004 Subaru Impreza stacks up against a rival.