2004 Auto-Trail Motorhome — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 270 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Auto-Trail Motorhome, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 78.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.4% in the 60-90k group versus 11.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 31 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 20 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 15 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 24 |
| 2 | Wipers | 15 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo | 9 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 22.2% | 60 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.1% | 38 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 35 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 30 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.1% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 13 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 35 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 165 | 23.6% |
| 60-90k | 64 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 56 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 61 | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 55 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 45 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Motorhome
Before buying a 2004 Auto-Trail Motorhome, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (6.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2004 Auto-Trail Motorhomes pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 270 2004 Auto-Trail Motorhome MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Auto-Trail Motorhome?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2004 Motorhome get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 270 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.