Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Vauxhall Agila?

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 Vauxhall Agila?

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 Vauxhall Agila?

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 Vauxhall Agila vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 Vauxhall Agila reliable?

Based on MOT data from 4,630 vehicles, the 2004 Vauxhall Agila has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.7%, 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 Vauxhall Agila?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Vauxhall Agila are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (68.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (66.1% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (40.3% 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 Vauxhall Agila?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Vauxhall Agila (2004)

4,630 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.7% first-time pass rate

2004 Vauxhall Agila

CarHunch analysed 4,630 real MOT records for the 2004 Vauxhall Agila. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 Vauxhall Agila has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.7%, which sits below the UK average of 80% and suggests slightly above-average reliability issues for its age. More concerning, 39.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable and should trigger a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

These Agilas are running at a median of 48,892 miles—reasonable for a nearly 20-year-old car—but they're racking up an average of 4.21 failures and 20.8 advisories per test, indicating persistent wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for several repairs and have a trusted mechanic inspect the brake, suspension, and emissions systems specifically before committing.

The 2004 Vauxhall Agila has a decent first-time pass rate (76.7%), 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

76.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

39.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.21

Over 17.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 37k–64k

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 20.8 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 4,630 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 4,630 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 68.6%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 40.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Other issues 32.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Lighting 25.5%

Registration plate lamp 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 4,630 Vauxhall Agila cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Vauxhall Agila

Based on MOT data from 4,630 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.3% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	4,623	76.7%	4.21

Colour Breakdown

Based on 66,521 Vauxhall Agila vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 33.2%

22,090

Silver 25.9%

17,253

Red 17.3%

11,500

Black 10.8%

7,167

Green 6.2%

4,113

White 2.9%

1,919

Brown 1%

658

Grey 0.8%

528

Yellow 0.7%

436

Purple 0.6%

410

Turquoise 0.4%

258

Gold 0.3%

189

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Vauxhall Agila 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.

48,892

typical

36,523

low mileage

63,655

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Vauxhall Agila vehicles fall between 36,523 and 63,655 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 36,523 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.

✓ 36,523–63,655 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Vauxhall Agilas sit.

⚠ Over 85,934 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Vauxhall Agila — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2004 Vauxhall Agilas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 927 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% 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

17.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.21

Avg failures per vehicle

20.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Vauxhall Agila: All Agila years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Or browse all models: Vauxhall →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Vauxhall Agila stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing