2001 Daihatsu Sirion — MOT failures & pass rate
552 MOT tests on the 2001 Daihatsu Sirion are in this dataset, and 70.1% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.7%) and suspension (12.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 103 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.1% once past 90-120k — 3.0× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 37.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 70 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.1% | 67 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 58 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.6% | 53 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 42 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 103 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 31 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 28 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 24 |
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 | 34.1% | 188 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 143 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.5% | 130 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.8% | 109 |
| 5 | Other defects | 17.6% | 97 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 81 |
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 | 49 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 154 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 204 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 116 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 150 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 127 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 122 | 32.8% |
| 2024 | 75 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 78 | 37.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Sirion
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2001 Daihatsu Sirions pass their MOT?
70.1% of the 552 2001 Daihatsu Sirion MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Daihatsu Sirion?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.1%).
Does the 2001 Sirion get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 37.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 552 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.