Daihatsu Terios MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 24 model years and 28,813 tests, the Daihatsu Terios passes its MOT 73.0% of the time. That is effectively the same as small SUVs of a similar age (27.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
Best and worst Terios years
Ranked across Terios years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 80.4% of 2009 examples pass against 65.2% of 2004 ones.
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.8% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, chassis condition and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 4,124 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 33.0% in the 150k+ band, a 23.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Terios model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 47 | 66.0% | 34.0% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1998 | 158 | 68.3% | 31.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1999 | 385 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 287 | 65.8% | 34.2% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 505 | 65.7% | 34.3% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 728 | 65.9% | 34.1% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 1,388 | 65.8% | 34.2% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2004 | 1,523 | 65.2% | 34.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2005 | 2,804 | 67.5% | 32.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2006 | 4,757 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 7,456 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 5,203 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 3,411 | 80.4% | 19.6% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 76 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.8% | 3,985 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 2,886 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 2,883 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 2,743 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 1,566 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 1,500 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.8% | 810 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.8% | 798 |
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 | 4,124 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 1,503 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 1,339 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,294 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,285 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,201 |
| 7 | Prescribed areas | 1,116 |
| 8 | Joints | 1,088 |
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 | 40.9% | 11,782 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 7,634 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.0% | 6,043 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.8% | 5,991 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 3,213 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 2,772 |
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 | 695 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,177 | 19.3% |
| 60-90k | 10,169 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,103 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,486 | 33.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,157 | 33.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 28,746 | 27.0% |
| Diesel | 61 | 34.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,051 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 6,431 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 5,812 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 5,095 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 4,424 | 28.0% |
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Terios
- Suspension (13.8% 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 (10.0% 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.
- 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.
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 Terios?
73.0% of the 28,813 Daihatsu Terios MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.0% fail rate, across model years 1997–2020.
What does the Daihatsu Terios most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 13.8% of tests, then brakes (10.0%).
Which Terios years are best and worst for MOT results?
2009 has the best pass rate at 80.4% and 2004 the weakest at 65.2%, from 3,411 and 1,523 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Terios MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.0% for 150k+, a 23.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,813 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.