Toyota Yaris (2004)
2004 Toyota Yaris
CarHunch analysed 35,151 real MOT records for the 2004 Toyota Yaris. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Toyota Yaris passes its MOT at 75.4%, which sits 4.6 points below the UK average—a modest shortfall, but the real concern is that 38% of vehicles in this cohort have recorded at least one dangerous defect, suggesting significant structural or safety issues are common enough to be a serious buyer consideration. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly (75.5% and 74.5% respectively), so fuel type isn't a meaningful differentiator here.
At nearly 65,000 miles on average, these cars are showing their age: the average vehicle racks up 5 failures per test and a striking 27.2 advisories, indicating widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying, have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, suspension, and bodywork closely—nearly four in ten have had a dangerous defect recorded, and at this mileage you're well into the zone where cumulative decay becomes the real cost.
What to check before buying a 2004 Toyota Yaris
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 38% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Toyota Yaris
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (91%) | 32,043 | 75.5% | 5.06 |
| Diesel (9%) | 3,071 | 74.5% | 5.04 |
| Other (0%) | 34 | 82% | 1.24 |
| LPG (0%) | 3 | 84.2% | 2.33 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Toyota Yaris vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2004 Toyota Yaris vehicles fall between 45,755 and 76,788 miles.
2004 Toyota Yaris — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 11,059 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (34% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2004 Toyota Yaris
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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66%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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59%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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38.4%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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38.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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36.1%
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
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36%
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
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34%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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33.9%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Toyota Yaris?
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