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

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 Hi Ace?

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 Hi Ace?

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 Hi Ace vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% 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 Hi Ace reliable?

Based on MOT data from 791 vehicles, the 2004 Toyota Hi Ace 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 Hi Ace?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Toyota Hi Ace are: Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (48.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (47.5% 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 Hi Ace?

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 Hi Ace (2004)

791 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.4% first-time pass rate

2004 Toyota Hi Ace

CarHunch analysed 791 real MOT records for the 2004 Toyota Hi Ace. 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 HI-ACE passes its first MOT attempt only 75.9% of the time, about 4 points below the UK average, which is a modest reliability concern—but the real issue is that 28.2% of these vans have recorded dangerous defects over their lifetime, well above the acceptable threshold. This suggests buyers need to be especially cautious about structural, brake, and steering issues.

At 107,856 miles median mileage, these vans are running fairly high for a twenty-year-old vehicle, and the average of 4.24 failures per test reflects wear accumulated through commercial use or extended ownership. The exceptionally high advisory count of 23.2 per vehicle indicates pervasive minor wear items—lights, wipers, seals, trim—so budget for incremental repairs rather than expecting a single big fix. Before purchasing, insist on a detailed pre-buy inspection focusing on the suspension, chassis condition, and brake system, as these are where the dangerous defects cluster.

The 2004 Toyota Hi Ace 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)

28.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.24

Over 17 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

108k

Middle half: 80k–141k

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 23.2 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 791 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 791 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 48.1%

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Tyre wear 48%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 30.9%

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush · Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn 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 27.9%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

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 791 Toyota Hi Ace cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Toyota Hi Ace

Based on MOT data from 791 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.2% 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 (100%)	788	76.4%	4.24

Colour Breakdown

Based on 61,618 Toyota Hi Ace vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 37.8%

23,283

Blue 27.5%

16,926

Red 13.8%

8,500

Silver 7%

4,286

Yellow 6.5%

4,013

Green 3.1%

1,886

Black 1.3%

793

Turquoise 1.3%

792

Grey 0.7%

434

Brown 0.5%

302

Beige 0.3%

206

Gold 0.3%

197

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Toyota Hi Ace 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.

107,856

typical

80,193

low mileage

140,788

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Toyota Hi Ace vehicles fall between 80,193 and 140,788 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 80,193 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.

✓ 80,193–140,788 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Toyota Hi Aces sit.

⚠ Over 190,063 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 Hi Ace — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 41% of 2004 Toyota Hi Aces are still active.

Numbers are declining — 251 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (41% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.24

Avg failures per vehicle

23.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Toyota Hi Ace stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing