Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Tata Safari?

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 Tata Safari?

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 Tata Safari?

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 Tata Safari vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% 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 Tata Safari reliable?

Based on MOT data from 155 vehicles, the 2004 Tata Safari has a first-time MOT pass rate of 61.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Tata Safari?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Tata Safari are: Oil leak (62.8% of vehicles), Brake pipe slightly corroded (53.8% of vehicles), Fuel pipe/s corroded (53.4% 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 Tata Safari?

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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Tata Safari (2004)

155 real MOT outcomes analysed • 61.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Tata Safari

CarHunch analysed 155 real MOT records for the 2004 Tata Safari. 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 Compare Models

The 2004 Tata Safari is a significantly weaker MOT performer than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 59.7% against the 80% benchmark—and that's before you factor in that 40% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects, which is a serious buyer concern. Nearly all Safaris in this cohort are diesel, and they're posting identical weak results across the board.

These cars are running relatively light mileage for their age (median 46,031 miles), yet averaging 3.75 failures and 13.5 advisories per test, which tells you the problems aren't just wear-and-tear but systematic mechanical issues. If you're considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with Indian-market vehicles, because MOT history suggests these need close scrutiny before you commit.

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

⚠️ 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

61.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

40%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.75

Over 9.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

46k

Middle half: 37k–60k

For context

These stats describe 155 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 155 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 62.8%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Brake wear 53.8%

Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Suspension & steering 49.6%

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel · Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play · Nearside Front Steering pivot point has excessive play · …

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

Tyre wear 39.1%

Offside Rear 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.

Exhaust & emissions 32%

Exhaust has a major 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 155 Tata Safari cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Tata Safari

Based on MOT data from 155 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40% 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
Diesel (99%)	154	61.4%	3.77

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Tata Safari 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.

46,031

typical

36,714

low mileage

59,569

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Tata Safari vehicles fall between 36,714 and 59,569 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,714 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.

✓ 36,714–59,569 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Tata Safaris sit.

⚠ Over 80,418 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Tata Safari — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 33% of 2004 Tata Safaris are still active.

Numbers are declining — 16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2017 (33% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2017.

MOT History Averages

9.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.75

Avg failures per vehicle

13.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Tata Safari: All Safari years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2005

Or browse all models: Tata →

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Buyer beware — pass it on