Ford Fiesta 2004: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2004 Ford Fiesta include Swivel pins and bushes (rear) (~16.1× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (7,279 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 7,279 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 16.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 215 failed first-attempt tests; 3.0% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 215 failures · ×16.1 vs similar cars · 3.0% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
|
Rear | 215 | ×16.1 | 3.0% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Ball joint dust cover (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint dust cover
|
Front | 546 | ×3.4 | 7.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 3 |
Rigid brake pipes (front)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Front | 427 | ×2.6 | 5.9% | Possible elevated fault |
| 4 |
Wheel bearings (rear)
Suspension > Wheel bearings
|
Rear | 253 | ×2.6 | 3.5% | Possible elevated fault |
| 5 |
Rigid brake pipes (rear)
Brakes > Rigid brake pipes
|
Rear | 602 | ×2.3 | 8.3% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Individual direction indicators (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators
|
Front | 258 | ×2.2 | 3.5% | Possible elevated fault |
| 7 |
Stop lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Stop lamp
|
Any | 841 | ×2.1 | 11.6% | Possible elevated fault |
| 8 |
Shock absorbers (rear)
Suspension > Shock absorbers
|
Rear | 300 | ×2.1 | 4.1% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Wear patterns
These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.
| # | Pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Tyres — Size/type (front)
Tyres > Size/type
|
Front | 36 | ×2.4 | 0.5% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Swivel pins and bushes
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
|
Any | 36 | ×10.4 | 0.5% | Elevated vs peers |
| 2 |
Road Wheels — Condition
Road Wheels > Condition
|
Any | 21 | ×10.3 | 0.3% | Elevated vs peers |
| 3 |
Road Wheels — Condition (rear)
Road Wheels > Condition
|
Rear | 249 | ×5.7 | 3.4% | Elevated vs peers |
| 4 |
Swivel pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Axles > Swivel pins and bushes
|
Rear | 348 | ×5.5 | 4.8% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 5 |
Road Wheels — Condition (front)
Road Wheels > Condition
|
Front | 359 | ×5.2 | 4.9% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Anti-roll bars — Linkage (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage
|
Front | 27 | ×4.6 | 0.4% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 116 | ×3.7 | 1.6% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Other suspension component > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 46 | ×3.5 | 0.6% | Possible elevated fault |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.