2004 Vauxhall Meriva — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,258 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Vauxhall Meriva, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 67.0% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (69.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 38.4% in the 150k+ group versus 27.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.3% | 3,532 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 3,111 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 2,473 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 2,069 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 1,348 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 1,287 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,118 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,349 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,278 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 1,196 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 1,019 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 927 |
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 | 48.7% | 8,886 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.4% | 6,472 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.4% | 5,920 |
| 4 | Other defects | 26.1% | 4,769 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 3,751 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 17.1% | 3,116 |
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 | 241 | 27.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,621 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 6,050 | 32.0% |
| 90-120k | 6,076 | 34.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,497 | 36.4% |
| 150k+ | 615 | 38.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 16,750 | 33.0% |
| Diesel | 1,508 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,375 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 4,559 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 3,332 | 33.1% |
| 2024 | 2,323 | 31.8% |
| 2025 | 1,669 | 32.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Meriva
Before buying a 2004 Vauxhall Meriva, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 19.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (19.3% 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 (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.5% 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 Vauxhall Merivas pass their MOT?
67.0% of the 18,258 2004 Vauxhall Meriva MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Vauxhall Meriva?
Suspension, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.0%).
Does the 2004 Meriva get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.0% in the 0-30k band to 38.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,258 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.