Used car guide

2004 Toyota Celica: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Toyota Celicas, from 1,264 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,264MOT tests in 2025

57%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)

5,500typical miles a year

3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Toyota Celicas than on all cars registered in 2004.

Suspension arm3× usual

Toyota Celica
12.2% All 2004 cars
4.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.4% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Sub-frame2× usual

Toyota Celica
12.7% All 2004 cars
6.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.8× usual

Toyota Celica
12.1% All 2004 cars
6.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.5× usual

Toyota Celica
6.4% All 2004 cars
2.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 2.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.
Body structure rust or damage1.9× usual

Toyota Celica
6.5% All 2004 cars
3.4%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.1% here, against 9.5% of all 2004 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 2.1% here, against 6.8% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Toyota Celica MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

45% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Brakes

40% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Lights and electrics

33% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Tyres

28% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Rust and bodywork

17% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.
Exhaust and emissions

16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Toyota Celica?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2006	882	Suspension 39%
2005	1,208	Suspension 44%
2003	1,118	Suspension 47%
2002	857	Suspension 43%
2001	727	Suspension 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Toyota Celicas registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score