2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel than on all cars registered in 2004.

• Steering rack inner joints5.2× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  19.3% All 2004 cars

  3.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% 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.

• Sub-frame3× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  15.4% All 2004 cars

  5.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, 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.

• Brake discs1.7× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  23% All 2004 cars

  13.2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  17.3% All 2004 cars

  9.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.1% 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.

• Drive shaft (CV) joints2× usual
  Vauxhall Vectra

  13.4% All 2004 cars

  6.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.8%, against 3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Common 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel MOT failures and advisories

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

• Suspension
  57% 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
  51% 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
  38% 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
  38% 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.

• Steering
  21% of testsRough price £100–£450

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

• Driveshafts and joints
  14% of testsRough price £60–£350

  At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Known faults on the 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Rear axle stub recall

  All engines

  Some cars were recalled because a rear axle stub might not meet spec.

  At the viewing: Run the free DVSA recall check on the reg.

  Source: What Car?: Vauxhall Vectra (2002-2009) reliability

• Oil use (2.0 and 2.2 DTI)

  2.0 and 2.2 DTI diesel

  The older 2.0 and 2.2 DTI diesels use a lot of oil, and running low causes damage.

  At the viewing: Check the dipstick and listen for unusual engine noises.

  Source: What Car?: Vauxhall Vectra (2002-2009) reliability

• Suspension clonks

  All engines

  Clonks from the suspension can be heard on some cars.

  At the viewing: Listen over bumps and pick a car without clonks.

  Source: What Car?: Vauxhall Vectra (2002-2009) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has the rear axle recall been done?
2. Any recent work on the steering rack inner joints? (Flagged at MOT 5.2× as often on the 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?