Daihatsu Charade MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daihatsu Charade appears in 9,287 MOT tests spanning model years 1982–2021, and 72.2% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (28.9% fail rate), the Charade comes out 1.2pp better. Its most common failure areas are suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 5.8 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, ball joint and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 861 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Charade model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 47 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 90 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 70 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1994 | 47 | 80.8% | 19.1% | Visibility |
| 1996 | 67 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1997 | 61 | 82.0% | 18.0% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 69 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 59 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2000 | 135 | 67.4% | 32.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2003 | 1,780 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 2,626 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 1,950 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 1,710 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 434 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 1,472 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 932 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 895 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 679 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.2% | 673 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 589 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.2% | 387 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.1% | 106 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 861 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 659 |
| 3 | Wipers | 543 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 488 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 449 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 391 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 326 |
| 8 | Ball joint dust cover | 296 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 40.0% | 3,715 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.2% | 2,437 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.2% | 2,251 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 1,623 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 1,108 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.7% | 1,086 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 943 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,834 | 25.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,182 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,062 | 32.9% |
| 120-150k | 202 | 37.1% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,462 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 2,133 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 1,841 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 1,546 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 1,305 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Charade
- Suspension (15.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Daihatsu Charade?
72.2% of the 9,287 Daihatsu Charade MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.8% fail rate, across model years 1982–2021.
What does the Daihatsu Charade most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (10.0%).
How much does mileage affect Charade MOT results?
Fail rates run at 16.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.9% for 150k+, a 17.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,287 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.