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Daihatsu Terios Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Daihatsu Terios car check

Is the Daihatsu Terios reliable? We analysed 225,773 real MOT tests across 14,965 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 225,773 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.8%
Typical Mileage
64,314mi
Annual Mileage
4,876mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Daihatsu Terios is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Daihatsu Terios.

Daihatsu Terios Number Plates

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

Daihatsu Terios MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

83.7%
2010
81.7%
2009
80.7%
2008
79.3%
2007
78%
2006
74.7%
2005
73.2%
2004
73.2%
2003
71.1%
2002
69.2%
2001
69.3%
2000
67.7%
1999
65.7%
1998
64.6%
1997

Daihatsu Terios Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 7,214
Brake pipe excessively corroded 5,434
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,330
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,018
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,004
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 3,785
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 3,431
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,297
Registration plate lamp not working 3,217
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 3,007

Daihatsu Terios Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,791 mi/yr
Typical
4,876 mi/yr
Average
5,881 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,670 mi/yr

Daihatsu Terios MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 221 83.7% 40,880 58,944 96,393
2009 10,709 81.7% 34,656 55,584 82,137
2008 17,862 80.7% 36,331 59,469 86,414
2007 28,650 79.3% 38,708 62,086 89,207
2006 22,694 78.0% 37,717 60,939 87,818
2005 19,604 74.7% 36,004 57,601 81,593
2004 15,730 73.2% 36,979 58,263 81,194
2003 21,008 73.2% 40,299 61,835 84,972
2002 21,019 71.1% 43,750 65,607 89,444
2001 16,628 69.2% 47,919 67,674 89,840
2000 13,077 69.3% 50,274 68,925 88,850
1999 20,205 67.7% 52,243 70,192 89,509
1998 13,533 65.7% 56,890 74,044 92,843
1997 4,099 64.6% 60,883 77,877 96,610

How Long Does a Daihatsu Terios Last?

Based on 14,965 Daihatsu Terios vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.5 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Daihatsu Terios Mileage Distribution

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

Median
64,314 mi
75th Percentile
87,736 mi
95th Percentile
125,204 mi
Max Recorded
995,094 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Daihatsu Terios

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

Best year
2010

83.7% MOT pass rate from 221 tests

Year to avoid
1997

64.6% MOT pass rate from 4,099 tests

The best year to buy a used Daihatsu Terios is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.7% across 221 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Daihatsu Terios Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Daihatsu Terios THIS CAR 73.8% 225,773 64,314 mi 29 yrs
Daihatsu Sirion 77.3% 250,499 48,096 mi 28 yrs
Daihatsu Fourtrak 65.9% 202,121 93,622 mi 40 yrs
Daihatsu Charade 72.3% 135,246 51,364 mi 36 yrs
MG Zt 71.1% 193,197 70,613 mi 25 yrs

Compared to the Daihatsu Sirion (77.3% pass rate) and the Daihatsu Fourtrak (65.9% pass rate), the Daihatsu Terios sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Daihatsu Terios?

The Daihatsu Terios has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.8% across 225,773 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Daihatsu Terios are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (7,214 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (5,434), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (5,330). 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 Terios owner drives around 4,876 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 Terios models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Terios — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Daihatsu Terios reliable?
Based on 225,773 MOT tests, the Daihatsu Terios has a 73.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Daihatsu Terios?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake pipe excessively corroded, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Daihatsu Terios do per year?
The typical Daihatsu Terios does around 4,876 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Daihatsu Terios last?
Most Daihatsu Terios models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 14,965 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Daihatsu Terios?
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 Terios?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Daihatsu Terios is 2010 with a 83.7% pass rate across 221 tests.