1997 Daihatsu Hijet — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 595 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Daihatsu Hijet, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 68.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 37.0% in the 90-120k group versus 27.4% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

595

MOT tests analysed

31.3%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

25.7

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1997 Daihatsu Hijet
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	19.0%	113
2	Brakes	16.3%	97
3	Emissions & environmental	14.1%	84
4	Visibility	9.9%	59
5	Body, structure & corrosion	8.2%	49
6	Suspension	5.5%	33

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1997 Daihatsu Hijet
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Catalyst emissions	92
2	Service brake performance	68
3	Headlamp	43
4	Headlamp aim	43
5	Washers	41
6	Wipers	39

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1997 Daihatsu Hijet
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	29.8%	177
2	Suspension	24.9%	148
3	Tyres	19.7%	117
4	Body, structure & corrosion	15.1%	90
5	Emissions & environmental	14.6%	87
6	Other defects	12.1%	72

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1997 Hijet
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	62	27.4%
30-60k	204	28.9%
60-90k	230	32.2%
90-120k	73	37.0%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 1997 Hijet
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Petrol	479	30.9%
Diesel	116	32.8%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1997 Hijet
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	161	32.3%
2022	139	34.5%
2023	118	33.9%
2024	93	25.8%
2025	84	26.2%

What to check before buying a 1997 Hijet

Before buying a 1997 Daihatsu Hijet, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.0% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (19.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Brakes (16.3% 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 (14.1% 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 1997 Daihatsu Hijets pass their MOT?

68.7% of the 595 1997 Daihatsu Hijet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.3% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Daihatsu Hijet?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by brakes (16.3%).

Does the 1997 Hijet get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.4% in the 0-30k band to 37.0% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 595 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.