Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Toyota Avensis?

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 Toyota Avensis?

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 Toyota Avensis?

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 Toyota Avensis vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

26% 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 Toyota Avensis reliable?

Based on MOT data from 24,184 vehicles, the 2004 Toyota Avensis has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.4%, 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 Toyota Avensis?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Toyota Avensis are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (65.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.5% 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 Toyota Avensis?

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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Toyota Avensis (2004)

24,184 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Toyota Avensis

CarHunch analysed 24,184 real MOT records for the 2004 Toyota Avensis. 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 Toyota Avensis has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.4%, which is 3.6 percentage points below the UK average—a modest shortfall that suggests age-related wear is catching up. More concerning is that a quarter of these vehicles (25.6%) have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, making this a meaningful buyer consideration, though petrol and diesel variants perform similarly at 76.8% and 75.8% respectively.

At nearly 91,000 miles on average, these Avensis examples show typical mileage for their age, but the 3.64 failures per vehicle reveal structural issues accumulating—most cars are racking up 14.6 advisories, indicating multiple small problems rather than single showstoppers. If you're viewing one, budget for imminent work on a couple of fronts and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and cooling system vulnerabilities common to this generation.

The 2004 Toyota Avensis has a decent first-time pass rate (76.4%), 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

76.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

25.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.64

Over 14.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

77k

Middle half: 61k–95k

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 14.6 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 24,184 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 24,184 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 71.2%

Nearside Front 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.

Brake wear 49.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · …

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

Other issues 33.1%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · …

Lighting 21.7%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

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 24,184 Toyota Avensis cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Toyota Avensis

Based on MOT data from 24,184 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.6% 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 (61%)	14,728	76.8%	3.78
Diesel (39%)	9,391	75.8%	3.42
LPG (0%)	55	76.6%	4.2

Colour Breakdown

Based on 270,573 Toyota Avensis vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 41.7%

112,945

Blue 16.3%

44,072

Black 11.4%

30,847

Grey 9.2%

24,804

Green 8.2%

22,090

Red 6.6%

17,954

White 3.4%

9,269

Maroon 1.6%

4,286

Gold 0.8%

2,091

Beige 0.5%

1,344

Bronze 0.2%

661

Purple 0.1%

210

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Toyota Avensis 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.

77,164

typical

61,085

low mileage

95,260

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Toyota Avensis vehicles fall between 61,085 and 95,260 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 61,085 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.

✓ 61,085–95,260 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Toyota Avensiss sit.

⚠ Over 128,601 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Toyota Avensis — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 12% of 2004 Toyota Avensiss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 2,016 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (12% 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

14.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.64

Avg failures per vehicle

14.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Avensis: All Avensis years → Which year to buy? →

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See how the 2004 Toyota Avensis stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing