Vauxhall Meriva (2004)
2004 Vauxhall Meriva
CarHunch analysed 23,879 real MOT records for the 2004 Vauxhall Meriva. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Vauxhall Meriva is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 68.1% against the national benchmark of 80%. More concerning, 41.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above the threshold where buyers should take serious notice.
At 61,683 miles median mileage, these cars are reasonably preserved for their age, yet they're still averaging 5.72 failures and 25.6 advisories per test—suggesting systemic weaknesses rather than isolated wear items. Before committing to one, get a professional pre-purchase inspection focused on the cooling system, electrics, and suspension, as the high advisory count indicates these are common problem areas.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2004 Vauxhall Meriva
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.
- ⚠️ 41.3% 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 Vauxhall Meriva
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (86%) | 20,638 | 67.8% | 5.84 |
| Diesel (14%) | 3,232 | 69.5% | 4.98 |
| LPG (0%) | 8 | 67.8% | 5.5 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 70.6% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Vauxhall Meriva 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 Vauxhall Meriva vehicles fall between 49,795 and 74,431 miles.
2004 Vauxhall Meriva — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 1,170 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% 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 Vauxhall Meriva
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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84.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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83.3%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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47.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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47.2%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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45.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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44.8%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
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44.7%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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41.6%
Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Vauxhall Meriva?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.