1996 Daihatsu Hijet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 309 MOT tests, the 1996 Daihatsu Hijet recorded a 71.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 24.7% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.7% of tests against 14.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and headlamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 35 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.2% versus 22.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 32.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.7% | 70 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 44 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.6% | 42 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 25 |
| 6 | Suspension | 7.4% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 35 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 34 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 33 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 23 |
| 6 | Washers | 23 |
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 | 32.0% | 99 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 84 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.2% | 50 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 45 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.9% | 43 |
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 | 88 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 163 | 30.1% |
| 90-120k | 41 | 34.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 235 | 29.8% |
| Diesel | 74 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 32.5% |
| 2022 | 79 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 50 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 51 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 52 | 34.6% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Hijet
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 22.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (22.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (13.6% 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
How many 1996 Daihatsu Hijets pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 309 1996 Daihatsu Hijet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Daihatsu Hijet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.2%).
Does the 1996 Hijet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 30-60k band to 34.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 309 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.