1999 Daihatsu Terios — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Daihatsu Terios passed 67.8% of its 385 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 28.2% of the time, so this is 4.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (18.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (17.4%) 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, catalyst emissions and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 96 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 40.9% versus 25.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 32.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 36.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.4% | 71 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 67 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 51 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 40 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.8% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 24 |
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 | 96 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 57 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 41 |
| 4 | Joints | 30 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 26 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | 37.7% | 145 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.1% | 112 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.5% | 75 |
| 4 | Brakes | 19.0% | 73 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 50 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 35 |
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 | 107 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 88 | 40.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 81 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 81 | 35.8% |
| 2024 | 55 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 50 | 36.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Terios
On a 1999 Terios, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.4% 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 (17.4% 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+.
- Emissions & environmental (13.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1999 Daihatsu Terioss pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 385 1999 Daihatsu Terios MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Daihatsu Terios?
Suspension, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (17.4%).
Does the 1999 Terios get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.2% in the 30-60k band to 40.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 385 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.