Daihatsu Fourtrak MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 39 model years and 9,254 tests, the Daihatsu Fourtrak passes its MOT 72.8% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (25.0% fail rate), the Fourtrak comes out 2.2pp 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 (16.7%) and suspension (14.3%) 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 chassis condition — prescribed areas alone was recorded 1,345 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.9% versus 22.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.5% in 2021 to 23.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fourtrak model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 42 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 69 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Brakes |
| 1987 | 86 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 133 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 181 | 80.1% | 19.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 153 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 204 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 350 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 391 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 496 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 479 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 766 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 1,234 | 72.5% | 27.6% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 1,871 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 1,401 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 773 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 513 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 46 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 1,543 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 1,324 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 1,201 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 699 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.4% | 685 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 475 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.9% | 450 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 260 |
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 | 1,345 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 678 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 580 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 527 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 470 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 452 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 450 |
| 8 | Joints | 427 |
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 | 37.5% | 3,470 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.3% | 2,620 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.4% | 2,074 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 1,415 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.3% | 1,328 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.0% | 1,205 |
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 | 385 | 22.9% |
| 30-60k | 659 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,419 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,314 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,262 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,205 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,162 | 27.2% |
| Petrol | 92 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,412 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 2,065 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 1,793 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 1,603 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 1,381 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Fourtrak
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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 (13.0% 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+.
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 Fourtrak?
72.8% of the 9,254 Daihatsu Fourtrak MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.2% fail rate, across model years 1981–2019.
What does the Daihatsu Fourtrak most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, then suspension (14.3%).
How much does mileage affect Fourtrak MOT results?
Fail rates run at 22.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.9% for 150k+, a 6.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,254 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.