Daihatsu Fieldman MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daihatsu Fieldman appears in 1,571 MOT tests spanning model years 1993–2002, and 71.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the Fieldman comes out 2.8pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.5%) and suspension (15.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, component mounting prescribed areas and integral vehicle structure condition — prescribed areas alone was recorded 226 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.1% versus 34.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fieldman model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 33 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 100 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 115 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 161 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 289 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 250 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 252 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 139 | 68.3% | 31.6% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 179 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 53 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 275 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.5% | 243 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 212 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.3% | 130 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.2% | 113 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 93 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.8% | 75 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.6% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 226 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 135 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 105 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 104 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 104 |
| 6 | Joints | 97 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 93 |
| 8 | Wipers | 92 |
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 | 43.2% | 678 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 31.2% | 490 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.2% | 365 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.0% | 235 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.0% | 204 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.5% | 197 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 94 | 34.0% |
| 60-90k | 246 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 389 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 415 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 409 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 423 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 342 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 317 | 29.6% |
| 2024 | 253 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 236 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Fieldman
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (13.5% 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 Fieldman?
71.6% of the 1,571 Daihatsu Fieldman MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.4% fail rate, across model years 1993–2002.
What does the Daihatsu Fieldman most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, then suspension (15.5%).
How much does mileage affect Fieldman MOT results?
Fail rates run at 34.0% for cars in the 30-60k band and 28.1% for 150k+, a 5.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,571 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.