2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Vauxhall Meriva MOT pass rate and common faults

1,674 MOT tests in 2024. 48.7% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

86Well below average
Passed first time48.7%
Failed or needed repairs51.3%
Typical mileage at test89,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,674 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt8.7%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded7.3%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.0%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases5.3%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction5.1%
  6. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.7%
  7. Position lamp: not working4.6%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.5%
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.4%
  10. Stop lamp: not working3.9%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension34.9%
  2. Lights & electrics31.2%
  3. Brakes30.1%
  4. Body & chassis18.9%
  5. Emissions & leaks13.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)11.6%
  7. Tyres9.5%
  8. Steering7.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded34.4%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.7%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine18.7%
  4. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)17.9%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Vauxhall Meriva?

In 2024, 48.7% of 2004 Vauxhall Meriva cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,674 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Vauxhall Meriva?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2004 Vauxhall Meriva reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 86, which is well below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).