1997 Daihatsu Hijet — MOT failures & pass rate
595 MOT tests on the 1997 Daihatsu Hijet are in this dataset, and 68.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.2% of the time, so this is 6.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.0%) and brakes (16.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 92 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 27.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.0% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.3% in 2021 to 26.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | 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 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 92 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 68 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 43 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 43 |
| 5 | Washers | 41 |
| 6 | Wipers | 39 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | 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.
| 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
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 479 | 30.9% |
| Diesel | 116 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| 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
On a 1997 Hijet, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.