Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Suzuki Carry?

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 Suzuki Carry?

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 Suzuki Carry?

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 Suzuki Carry vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

35% 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 Suzuki Carry reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,368 vehicles, the 2004 Suzuki Carry has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74%, 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 Suzuki Carry?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Suzuki Carry are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (63% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.6% 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 Suzuki Carry?

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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Suzuki Carry (2004)

3,368 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74% first-time pass rate

2004 Suzuki Carry

CarHunch analysed 3,368 real MOT records for the 2004 Suzuki Carry. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Suzuki Carry's first-time MOT pass rate of 70.5% is notably below the UK average of 80%, signalling below-average reliability for a vehicle of this age—and the fact that 34.7% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect is a genuine red flag for prospective buyers. This van simply doesn't hold up as well as most comparable 20-year-old vehicles on the road.

At a median mileage of around 60,000, these Carrys have been relatively lightly used for their age, yet they still average 4.39 failures per test and rack up 19.8 advisories, suggesting inherent wear points rather than high-mileage abuse. If you're considering one, budget for imminent repairs and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the structural and safety systems that generated those dangerous defects—don't rely on a recent pass certificate.

The 2004 Suzuki Carry has a below-average first-time pass rate (74% 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

74%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

34.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.39

Over 15.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 44k–77k

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 19.8 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 3,368 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 3,368 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 64.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front 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 46.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Lighting 29.9%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Other issues 24.6%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction

Wipers & washers 22.2%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

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 3,368 Suzuki Carry cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Carry

Based on MOT data from 3,368 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 34.7% 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
Petrol (99%)	3,348	74%	4.4

Colour Breakdown

Based on 17,393 Suzuki Carry vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 73.4%

12,774

Blue 16.3%

2,830

Silver 8.1%

1,413

Green 0.6%

113

Black 0.4%

Red 0.3%

Yellow 0.3%

Orange 0.2%

Grey 0.1%

Pink 0.1%

Multi-colour 0.1%

Brown 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Suzuki Carry 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.

59,708

typical

44,260

low mileage

77,486

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Suzuki Carry vehicles fall between 44,260 and 77,486 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 44,260 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.

✓ 44,260–77,486 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Suzuki Carrys sit.

⚠ Over 104,606 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Suzuki Carry — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 33% of 2004 Suzuki Carrys are still active.

Numbers are declining — 809 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (33% 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

15.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.39

Avg failures per vehicle

19.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Suzuki Carry: All Carry years → Which year to buy? →

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Buyer beware — pass it on