Daihatsu Copen MOT pass rate & common failures
8,059 MOT tests on the Daihatsu Copen (1996–2024) give it a 78.0% pass rate. That is 4.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
Best and worst Copen years
Ranked across Copen years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 84.1% of 2008 examples pass against 74.1% of 2004 ones.
No single area dominates — suspension (9.7%) and lighting & signalling (8.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,190 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.0% versus 12.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Copen model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 571 | 72.9% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 1,683 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 762 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 947 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 1,451 | 80.8% | 19.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 1,564 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,000 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 31 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.7% | 779 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 667 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 437 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 413 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 364 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 354 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.1% | 329 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.5% | 205 |
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 | 1,190 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 334 |
| 3 | Wipers | 329 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 269 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 245 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 239 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 237 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 226 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.4% | 2,293 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.7% | 1,748 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.0% | 1,528 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 944 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 341 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 341 |
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 | 1,059 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,316 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,581 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 853 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 209 | 33.5% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,720 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 1,698 | 22.0% |
| 2023 | 1,668 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 1,514 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 1,459 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Copen
- Suspension (9.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.4% 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+.
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 Copen?
78.0% of the 8,059 Daihatsu Copen MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.9% fail rate, across model years 1996–2024.
What does the Daihatsu Copen most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 9.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (8.3%).
Which Copen years are best and worst for MOT results?
2008 has the best pass rate at 84.1% and 2004 the weakest at 74.1%, from 1,564 and 1,683 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Copen MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.0% for 150k+, a 17.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,059 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.