Daihatsu Materia MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daihatsu Materia appears in 3,899 MOT tests spanning model years 2007–2011, and 80.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.2% of the time, so this is 6.1pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.0%) and suspension (9.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, position lamp and wipers — ball joint alone was recorded 186 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.2% in the 150k+ band, a 16.4-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Materia model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1,144 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 1,569 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,026 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 150 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 389 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.5% | 369 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 290 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 195 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 184 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 131 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 114 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.7% | 66 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 186 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 161 |
| 3 | Wipers | 151 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 150 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 123 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 115 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 76 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 75 |
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 | 34.5% | 1,346 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.4% | 1,187 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 929 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.1% | 550 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 466 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 342 |
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 | 129 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 825 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,281 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,025 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 480 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 158 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 811 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 816 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 821 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 751 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 700 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Materia
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.5% 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.
- Brakes (7.4% 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.
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 Materia?
80.0% of the 3,899 Daihatsu Materia MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.0% fail rate, across model years 2007–2011.
What does the Daihatsu Materia most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, then suspension (9.5%).
How much does mileage affect Materia MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.2% for 150k+, a 16.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,899 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.