Daihatsu Sportrak MOT pass rate & common failures
The Daihatsu Sportrak appears in 1,295 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–2003, and 71.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (24.0% fail rate), the Sportrak comes out 4.6pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and chassis condition — prescribed areas alone was recorded 155 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Sportrak fails 30.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 27.7% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 25.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sportrak model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 40 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 70 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 93 | 72.0% | 28.0% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 124 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 150 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 150 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 152 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 147 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1997 | 346 | 68.2% | 31.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 209 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 161 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 143 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.6% | 124 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 119 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.3% | 81 |
| 7 | Visibility | 5.8% | 75 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.8% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 155 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 131 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 98 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 96 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 91 |
| 6 | Wipers | 70 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 69 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 66 |
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 | 28.1% | 364 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 336 |
| 3 | Other defects | 20.8% | 270 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 263 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.1% | 209 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 180 |
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 | 327 | 30.3% |
| 30-60k | 268 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 470 | 30.4% |
| 90-120k | 195 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 351 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 301 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 243 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 222 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 178 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Sportrak
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.4% 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+.
- Suspension (11.0% 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.
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 Sportrak?
71.4% of the 1,295 Daihatsu Sportrak MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.6% fail rate, across model years 1989–2003.
What does the Daihatsu Sportrak most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (12.4%).
How much does mileage affect Sportrak MOT results?
Fail rates run at 30.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.7% for 90-120k, a 2.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,295 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.