2004 Honda S2000 MOT pass rate: 85.2% (2,031 tests)
Is the 2004 S2000 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 84.2% +20.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 85.0% +20.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 86.4% +21.1 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 S2000
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 172 | 23.7% |
| 2 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 125 | 17.2% |
| 3 | Suspension | 102 | 14.1% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 89 | 12.3% |
| 5 | Visibility | 76 | 10.5% |
| 6 | Tyres | 61 | 8.4% |
All S2000 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,819 | 82.5% | +16.7 pts | 88,980 |
| 2003 | 1,840 | 81.0% | +15.9 pts | 83,333 |
| 2004 (this page) | 2,031 | 85.2% | +20.8 pts | 77,165 |
| 2005 | 2,079 | 85.6% | +21.1 pts | 73,825 |
| 2006 | 1,607 | 85.6% | +21.1 pts | 68,928 |
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Honda S2000 reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 85.2% of their MOT tests (2,031 tests, 2023–2025), +20.8 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 77,165 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 S2000?
The median tested example shows 77,165 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.