Daihatsu Extol MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 12 model years and 2,098 tests, the Daihatsu Extol passes its MOT 72.2% of the time. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.1%) and lighting & signalling (11.3%) 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 integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 496 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.4% versus 14.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 24.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Extol model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 58 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2004 | 404 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 647 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 975 | 72.8% | 27.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.1% | 254 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 236 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 234 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 216 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.7% | 182 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 147 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.4% | 93 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.4% | 51 |
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 | 496 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 204 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 150 |
| 4 | Wipers | 148 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 146 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 108 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 100 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 96 |
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 | 29.4% | 617 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 567 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.2% | 487 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.1% | 484 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 243 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.0% | 168 |
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 | 97 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 495 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 648 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 553 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 87 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 536 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 480 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 432 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 346 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 304 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Extol
- Suspension (12.1% 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 (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Extol?
72.2% of the 2,098 Daihatsu Extol MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.8% fail rate, across model years 2002–2013.
What does the Daihatsu Extol most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 12.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (11.3%).
How much does mileage affect Extol MOT results?
Fail rates run at 14.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 26.4% for 150k+, a 12.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,098 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.