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

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 Liana?

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 Liana?

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 Liana vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% 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 Liana reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,419 vehicles, the 2004 Suzuki Liana has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.6%, 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 Suzuki Liana?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Suzuki Liana are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (80% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.9% 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 Liana?

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 Liana (2004)

2,419 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.6% first-time pass rate

2004 Suzuki Liana

CarHunch analysed 2,419 real MOT records for the 2004 Suzuki Liana. 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 Liana's 75.6% first-time pass rate falls 4.4 percentage points below the UK average, suggesting below-average reliability for its age, and a concerning 33.6% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects—well above the typical threshold. This is a car that requires closer scrutiny than most before purchase.

At 64,762 miles average, these Lianas are relatively well-used for their age, yet they rack up 4 failures per vehicle and over 21 advisories on average, pointing to accumulated wear in routine maintenance areas rather than catastrophic faults. Before committing to one, budget for remedial work and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, exhaust, and brake components where minor defects tend to cluster.

The 2004 Suzuki Liana has a decent first-time pass rate (75.6%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

75.6%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

33.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.01

Over 15.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

63k

Middle half: 49k–78k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 21.1 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 2,419 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,419 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 80%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 38.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

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

Lighting 35.4%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

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

Suspension & steering 28.7%

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

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

Other issues 24.9%

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Wipers & washers 22.6%

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 2,419 Suzuki Liana cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Liana

Based on MOT data from 2,419 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.6% 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 (100%)	2,410	75.6%	4.01

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,746 Suzuki Liana vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.2%

3,897

Blue 17.5%

2,055

Black 16%

1,881

Red 14.5%

1,706

Beige 12.4%

1,455

Green 5.7%

671

White 0.4%

Gold 0.2%

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Suzuki Liana 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.

63,208

typical

49,191

low mileage

77,950

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Suzuki Liana vehicles fall between 49,191 and 77,950 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,191 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.

✓ 49,191–77,950 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Suzuki Lianas sit.

⚠ Over 105,232 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 Liana — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 2004 Suzuki Lianas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 196 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% 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

15.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.01

Avg failures per vehicle

21.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Suzuki →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Suzuki Liana stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing