2007 Daihatsu Materia — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,144 MOT tests, the 2007 Daihatsu Materia recorded a 78.8% pass rate. That is 5.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.3%) and lighting & signalling (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, wipers and rigid brake pipes — ball joint alone was recorded 86 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 20.5% versus 14.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.3% | 129 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 111 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 78 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 59 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 56 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 46 |
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 | 86 |
| 2 | Wipers | 56 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 50 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 49 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 30 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
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 | 37.8% | 432 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.5% | 338 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.5% | 246 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 166 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.1% | 161 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.0% | 92 |
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 | 188 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 322 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 372 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 202 | 22.8% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 242 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 247 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 233 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 220 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 202 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Materia
On a 2007 Materia, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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
How many 2007 Daihatsu Materias pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 1,144 2007 Daihatsu Materia MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Daihatsu Materia?
Suspension, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 2007 Materia get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 30-60k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,144 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.