1997 Daihatsu Fourtrak — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,234 MOT tests, the 1997 Daihatsu Fourtrak recorded a 72.5% pass rate. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.1%) and lighting & signalling (15.8%) 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 208 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 Fourtrak fails 27.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 28.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 22.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 198 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 195 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 174 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 7.8% | 96 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.3% | 78 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.4% | 67 |
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 | 208 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 111 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 94 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 79 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 61 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 60 |
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 | 39.4% | 486 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.8% | 355 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.2% | 286 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.0% | 210 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 190 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 155 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 197 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 330 | 24.6% |
| 120-150k | 338 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 339 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 316 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 305 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 245 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 191 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 177 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Fourtrak
On a 1997 Fourtrak, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.1% 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 (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (14.1% 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
How many 1997 Daihatsu Fourtraks pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 1,234 1997 Daihatsu Fourtrak MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Daihatsu Fourtrak?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.8%).
Does the 1997 Fourtrak get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.9% in the 60-90k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,234 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.