2001 Daihatsu Terios — MOT failures & pass rate
505 MOT tests on the 2001 Daihatsu Terios are in this dataset, and 65.7% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 6.1pp 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 (21.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (21.2%) 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, chassis condition and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 142 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 39.7% versus 29.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.1% in 2021 to 34.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 21.2% | 107 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 107 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 52 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 49 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.9% | 30 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.5% | 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 | 142 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 76 |
| 3 | Joints | 61 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 49 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 38 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 34 |
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 | 41.0% | 207 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.5% | 144 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.4% | 118 |
| 4 | Brakes | 18.8% | 95 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 69 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 42 |
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 | 75 | 29.3% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 138 | 36.2% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 39.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 155 | 36.1% |
| 2022 | 126 | 33.3% |
| 2023 | 91 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 81 | 35.8% |
| 2025 | 52 | 34.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Terios
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 21.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (21.2% 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 (21.2% 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 (10.3% 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 2001 Daihatsu Terioss pass their MOT?
65.7% of the 505 2001 Daihatsu Terios MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Daihatsu Terios?
Suspension, recorded in 21.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (21.2%).
Does the 2001 Terios get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.3% in the 30-60k band to 39.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 505 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.