Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Taishan Sport?

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 Taishan Sport?

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 Taishan Sport?

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.

Is the 2004 Taishan Sport reliable?

Based on MOT data from 139 vehicles, the 2004 Taishan Sport has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.9%, 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 Taishan Sport?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Taishan Sport are: Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort (36.2% of vehicles), Rear shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (20.7% of vehicles), Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (20.7% 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 Taishan Sport?

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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Taishan Sport (2004)

139 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.9% first-time pass rate

2004 Taishan Sport

CarHunch analysed 139 real MOT records for the 2004 Taishan Sport. 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 Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2004 Taishan Sport is a significantly unreliable proposition by UK standards, with only 23.4% passing MOT first time against the national average of 80%—nearly three-quarters of examples fail their initial test. Dangerous defects are rare at 4.3%, so safety-critical failures aren't the primary concern; instead, you're looking at persistent mechanical and wear issues.

These vehicles typically show very low mileage (median 2,815 miles), suggesting they've been lightly used or possibly stored for extended periods, which often correlates with seized components and fluid degradation rather than honest wear. With an average of 0.36 failures and 0.5 advisories per vehicle, expect niggly problems across multiple systems—suspension, brakes, lights, emissions—that add up to a tedious ownership experience. Before committing to one, budget for a pre-purchase inspection that covers the full powertrain and underside, as low mileage alone won't guarantee roadworthiness on this model.

We have limited data for the 2004 Taishan Sport — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

70.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

4.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.36

Over 1.7 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

Middle half: 2k–5k

For context

These stats describe 139 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 139 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 36.2%

Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel · Front Brake lever has inadequate reserve travel · …

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

Suspension & steering 20.7%

Rear shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. · Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect · Rear Rear shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect · …

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

Lighting 13.8%

Headlamp aim too high · Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam · Handlebar mounting clamp bolt loose

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

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 139 Taishan Sport cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Taishan Sport

Based on MOT data from 139 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.3% 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.
🔍 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Taishan Sport 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.

2,815

typical

1,618

low mileage

4,986

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Taishan Sport vehicles fall between 1,618 and 4,986 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 1,618 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.

✓ 1,618–4,986 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Taishan Sports sit.

⚠ Over 6,731 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.36

Avg failures per vehicle

0.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Taishan Sport: All Sport years → Which year to buy? →

2005

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Buyer beware — pass it on