2004 Vauxhall Vectra MOT pass rate: 59.7% (3,817 tests)
Is the 2004 Vectra getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59.8% -4.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 58.6% -5.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 61.0% -4.3 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 Vectra
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,388 | 24.0% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,280 | 22.1% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,233 | 21.3% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 455 | 7.9% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 416 | 7.2% |
| 6 | Tyres | 411 | 7.1% |
All Vectra years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,805 | 69.3% | +2.7 pts | 95,364 |
| 2002 | 1,736 | 66.1% | +0.4 pts | 97,324 |
| 2003 | 2,096 | 60.6% | -4.3 pts | 107,796 |
| 2004 (this page) | 3,817 | 59.7% | -4.6 pts | 113,322 |
| 2005 | 6,428 | 60.5% | -3.9 pts | 118,455 |
| 2006 | 13,530 | 62.0% | -2.4 pts | 116,790 |
| 2007 | 24,439 | 61.4% | -3.7 pts | 116,269 |
| 2008 | 27,959 | 60.9% | -4.2 pts | 113,282 |
| 2009 | 4,935 | 61.7% | -4.8 pts | 112,970 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Vauxhall Vectra years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2004 Vauxhall Vectra reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 59.7% of their MOT tests (3,817 tests, 2023–2025), -4.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 113,322 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Vectra?
The median tested example shows 113,322 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.