Piaggio Vespa ET4 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Piaggio Vespa ET4 car check
Is the Piaggio Vespa ET4 reliable? We analysed 5,276 real MOT tests across 1,062 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Piaggio Vespa ET4? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Piaggio Vespa ET4 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Piaggio Vespa ET4.
Piaggio Vespa ET4 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Piaggio Vespa ET4. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Piaggio Vespa ET4 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Piaggio Vespa ET4 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Piaggio Vespa ET4 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Piaggio Vespa ET4 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Piaggio Vespa ET4 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Piaggio Vespa ET4 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Piaggio Vespa ET4 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Piaggio Vespa ET4 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 124 | 83.9% | 3,868 | 9,751 | 14,552 |
| 2004 | 544 | 83.1% | 4,692 | 8,144 | 12,659 |
| 2003 | 564 | 81.0% | 5,582 | 9,440 | 13,768 |
| 2002 | 773 | 76.1% | 5,594 | 9,455 | 13,914 |
| 2001 | 892 | 76.3% | 7,752 | 11,696 | 17,447 |
| 2000 | 873 | 80.0% | 6,130 | 10,740 | 16,676 |
| 1999 | 422 | 78.2% | 7,476 | 12,054 | 16,598 |
| 1998 | 434 | 77.4% | 7,359 | 13,373 | 19,396 |
| 1997 | 390 | 77.9% | 7,346 | 10,886 | 15,920 |
| 1996 | 80 | 76.3% | 6,657 | 8,824 | 13,300 |
How Long Does a Piaggio Vespa ET4 Last?
Based on 1,062 Piaggio Vespa ET4 vehicles on UK roads.
Piaggio Vespa ET4 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Piaggio Vespa ET4 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Piaggio Vespa ET4
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
83.9% MOT pass rate from 124 tests
76.1% MOT pass rate from 773 tests
The best year to buy a used Piaggio Vespa ET4 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.9% across 124 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Piaggio Vespa ET4 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piaggio Vespa ET4 THIS CAR | 79.0% | 5,276 | 10,282 mi | 30 yrs |
| Piaggio Vespa | 83.8% | 355,016 | 10,772 mi | 30 yrs |
| Piaggio Zip | 77% | 101,622 | 9,391 mi | 29 yrs |
| Piaggio Nrg | 72.9% | 52,129 | 10,153 mi | 27 yrs |
| Suzuki XF650 | 84% | 4,157 | 22,861 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Piaggio Vespa (83.8% pass rate) and the Piaggio Zip (77.0% pass rate), the Piaggio Vespa ET4 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Piaggio Vespa ET4 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Piaggio Vespa ET4Should you buy a used Piaggio Vespa ET4?
The Piaggio Vespa ET4 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.0% across 5,276 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Piaggio Vespa ET4 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (210 recorded failures), headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam (121), and brake lever has inadequate reserve travel (73). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Piaggio Vespa ET4 owner drives around 869 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Piaggio Vespa ET4 models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.