2004 Daewoo Kalos — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,742 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Daewoo Kalos, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 67.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 40.2% in the 120-150k group versus 22.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.6% | 511 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 446 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 322 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 240 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 222 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 206 |
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 | 391 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 207 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 206 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 195 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 179 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 167 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.8% | 1,065 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.4% | 806 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.3% | 720 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 24.0% | 657 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.6% | 482 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.5% | 481 |
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 | 146 | 22.6% |
| 30-60k | 940 | 27.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,104 | 34.8% |
| 90-120k | 401 | 38.1% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 40.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 876 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 681 | 33.5% |
| 2023 | 516 | 31.6% |
| 2024 | 379 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 290 | 32.8% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Kalos
Before buying a 2004 Daewoo Kalos, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 18.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (18.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% 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 Daewoo Kaloss pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 2,742 2004 Daewoo Kalos MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Daewoo Kalos?
Suspension, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (16.3%).
Does the 2004 Kalos get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.6% in the 0-30k band to 40.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,742 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.