CarCostCheck

VAUXHALL CORSA (2004)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 17,048 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,730

£144/month

MOT Pass Rate

68%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£20

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 1-8

998cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

68% pass rate, £1730/year to run. 14 points below average.

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Petrol998cc22 years old17,048 tests83k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 998cc)

~50 mpg

£955
Road Tax

Based on 998cc

£20
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700
Total per year£1,730
Per month£144/mo
Per week£33/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

68% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 14 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the VAUXHALL brand average of 84%.

At 22 years old, 68% of VAUXHALL CORSAs from 2004 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 17,048 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 83,203 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2004 cars374th of 491(top 76%)
Rank among VAUXHALL models817th of 882(top 93%)
vs national average-14%(82% avg)
vs 2004 cars average-4%(72% avg)
vs VAUXHALL average-16%(84% avg)

Mileage Analysis

83,203

Average miles

vs

162,800

Expected for age

The average 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA has 83,203 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 162,800 miles for a 22-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2021 model with a 96% MOT pass rate, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 67%. The 2004 sits between the two at 68%.

VAUXHALL CORSA by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
202196%20421,555 mi
202085%34828,514 mi
201988%68,63932,881 mi
201885%86,26641,031 mi
201782%90,28549,026 mi
201681%133,04556,744 mi
201578%160,43863,359 mi
201476%141,74769,331 mi
201377%136,83875,022 mi
201276%138,26579,639 mi
201175%111,86883,401 mi
201074%99,90985,864 mi
200973%91,54189,332 mi
200873%84,78291,750 mi
200772%65,13392,716 mi
200668%34,52386,148 mi
200568%23,87784,722 mi
200468%17,04883,203 mi
200367%14,52183,708 mi
200268%9,30982,576 mi
200168%6,33780,064 mi
200069%2,46568,980 mi
199989%7,69780,319 mi
199873%2,51471,159 mi
199772%1,69472,132 mi
199674%83172,499 mi
199572%53774,332 mi
199477%39563,135 mi
199388%18762,430 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

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About the 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA

The 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA is a city car with a 998cc petrol engine. 17,048 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it one of the most commonly tested cars on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 76% of 2004 cars for MOT pass rates.

With an average of 83,203 miles at 22 years old, VAUXHALL CORSA owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2004 VAUXHALL CORSA Fuel Costs

The modest 998cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,730 144/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £20 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 68% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

VAUXHALL CORSA Reliability Trend

Newer VAUXHALL CORSAs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 6 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA

At 22 years old, the VAUXHALL CORSA is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 2021 model has the highest pass rate at 96%. With 17,048 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Clutch Wear

Medium risk

With an average of 83k miles, clutch replacement may be due (typical lifespan 60,000-100,000 miles). Budget £400-£800 for a new clutch kit.

Brake Discs and Pads

Medium risk

High-mileage cars often need brake disc replacement, not just pads. A full set of discs and pads costs £200-£500 per axle.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 68% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
VAUXHALL CORSA(2004)68%£955£20Grp 1-8£1730
HONDA JAZZ(2006)71%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£8
NISSAN MICRA(2006)74%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£8
FORD FIESTA(2003)71%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£8
TOYOTA YARIS(2005)73%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£8

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Vauxhall Models

Explore other Vauxhall cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Vauxhall Corsa.

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