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Daihatsu Charade Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Daihatsu Charade car check

Is the Daihatsu Charade reliable? We analysed 135,246 real MOT tests across 13,124 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 135,246 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.3%
Typical Mileage
51,364mi
Annual Mileage
3,470mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Daihatsu Charade is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Daihatsu Charade.

Daihatsu Charade Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Daihatsu Charade. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Daihatsu Charade MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Daihatsu Charade to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

77.4%
2007
76.4%
2006
76.3%
2005
75.5%
2004
73.9%
2003
68.9%
2001
71.6%
2000
68.7%
1999
70.9%
1998
69.8%
1997
69.4%
1996
68.3%
1995
67.3%
1994
67.3%
1993
66.8%
1992
65.6%
1991
64.2%
1990
64.5%
1989
65.8%
1988
69.2%
1987

Daihatsu Charade Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Daihatsu Charade fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 5,998
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,937
constant velocity joint gaiter split 3,411
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 3,032
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,840
Brake pipe excessively corroded 2,236
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,225
Stop lamp not working 2,133
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 1,671
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 1,630

Daihatsu Charade Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Daihatsu Charade owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,683 mi/yr
Typical
3,470 mi/yr
Average
4,599 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,145 mi/yr

Daihatsu Charade MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Daihatsu Charade year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 1,819 77.4% 20,172 35,689 55,745
2006 9,368 76.4% 23,281 41,144 63,978
2005 13,383 76.3% 21,802 39,074 61,944
2004 25,740 75.5% 25,095 42,481 64,056
2003 24,153 73.9% 26,712 44,781 67,372
2001 90 68.9% 27,563 50,479 66,310
2000 5,257 71.6% 39,692 56,173 76,249
1999 5,078 68.7% 47,152 63,815 82,153
1998 5,114 70.9% 39,829 58,196 80,406
1997 7,129 69.8% 45,275 64,681 83,313
1996 7,196 69.4% 46,352 63,990 84,665
1995 4,781 68.3% 46,702 64,168 85,813
1994 6,264 67.3% 48,470 66,809 88,636
1993 6,164 67.3% 44,159 62,490 82,191
1992 4,850 66.8% 36,947 57,952 76,360
1991 3,598 65.6% 36,809 57,884 76,844
1990 1,770 64.2% 33,804 53,864 74,144
1989 846 64.5% 35,821 54,480 75,841
1988 661 65.8% 40,085 57,742 77,867
1987 640 69.2% 31,866 50,685 70,602

How Long Does a Daihatsu Charade Last?

Based on 13,124 Daihatsu Charade vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.1 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Daihatsu Charade Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Daihatsu Charade MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
51,364 mi
75th Percentile
73,620 mi
95th Percentile
106,259 mi
Max Recorded
997,147 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Daihatsu Charade

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2007

77.4% MOT pass rate from 1,819 tests

Year to avoid
1990

64.2% MOT pass rate from 1,770 tests

The best year to buy a used Daihatsu Charade is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.4% across 1,819 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Daihatsu Charade Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Daihatsu Charade THIS CAR 72.3% 135,246 51,364 mi 36 yrs
Daihatsu Sirion 77.3% 250,499 48,096 mi 28 yrs
Daihatsu Terios 73.8% 225,773 64,314 mi 29 yrs
Daihatsu Fourtrak 65.9% 202,121 93,622 mi 40 yrs
Kia Pride 61.2% 67,258 57,493 mi 35 yrs

Compared to the Daihatsu Sirion (77.3% pass rate) and the Daihatsu Terios (73.8% pass rate), the Daihatsu Charade trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Daihatsu Charade?

The Daihatsu Charade has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% across 135,246 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Daihatsu Charade are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5,998 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3,937), and constant velocity joint gaiter split (3,411). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Daihatsu Charade owner drives around 3,470 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Daihatsu Charade models stay on UK roads for around 36 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Daihatsu Charade — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Daihatsu Charade reliable?
Based on 135,246 MOT tests, the Daihatsu Charade has a 72.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Daihatsu Charade?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Daihatsu Charade do per year?
The typical Daihatsu Charade does around 3,470 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Daihatsu Charade last?
Most Daihatsu Charade models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 13,124 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Daihatsu Charade?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Daihatsu Charade?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Daihatsu Charade is 2007 with a 77.4% pass rate across 1,819 tests.