Toyota-tough city car at orphan-brand prices
The Sirion is a compact Japanese city car that competed against the Toyota Yaris and Suzuki Swift on value and reliability. It was always a left-field choice in the UK, and since Daihatsu withdrew from Europe in 2013, surviving examples are orphaned — but this makes them genuine bargains on the used market. Buyers are typically cost-conscious commuters or first-car owners.
We track 5 known issues across the Daihatsu Sirion range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Daihatsu Sirion? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
M100 (1998–2005) — Engine options included the 1.0L 3-cylinder, 1.0L DVVT, 1.3L. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Structural corrosion compromising rigidity (£800–£2,000 to address).
M300 (2005–2012) — Engine options included the 1.0L DVVT, 1.3L, 1.5L. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Structural corrosion compromising rigidity (£800–£2,000 to address).
This is the most severe category of MOT corrosion failure, indicating rust has progressed to the point where the car's basic structural integrity is compromised. The failure rate is consistently high across all mileage bands from 20,000 miles upward and is worsening year-on-year.
Structural corrosion compromises the car's ability to protect occupants in a collision and affects handling safety. The vehicle is unsafe to drive and will fail its MOT. Repair costs often exceed the car's value as extensive welding work is required by a specialist body shop.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
This is a dangerous category because it affects the mounting points that secure the engine, gearbox, and front suspension to the car's structure. The failure rate affects all mileage bands and is worsening consistently.
Subframe mounting corrosion can lead to catastrophic failure where the engine and front suspension detach from the car while driving. This creates an immediate danger to occupants and other road users. Professional structural repair or replacement is essential and often exceeds the vehicle's value.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
MOT data shows this model fails at 141.3x the fleet average for suspension components being excessively damaged or corroded. This extraordinary failure rate affects all mileage bands from new cars upward, peaking on 1.0L variants at 40-60k miles. The issue affects control arms, links, and mounting brackets that corrode rapidly on this model.
Damaged suspension components affect vehicle handling, braking distances, and tyre wear patterns. Severely corroded components can fail suddenly, causing loss of control. Most failures require replacement rather than repair due to the extent of corrosion damage.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
MOT data shows failures at 33.6x the fleet average for worn suspension pins, bushes, and joints. This affects the rubber and metal bushes that locate suspension components, with wear starting from very low mileage. The pattern suggests premature degradation of the suspension mounting system rather than normal age-related wear.
Worn suspension bushes affect vehicle handling, steering precision, and create noise over bumps. They cause uneven tyre wear and can lead to MOT failure. While not immediately dangerous, they progressively worsen handling safety and must be replaced for MOT compliance.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
MOT data shows failures at 49.1x the fleet average for severely deteriorated suspension joint dust covers. These rubber or plastic boots protect ball joints and suspension components from dirt and moisture ingress. While not immediately dangerous, deteriorated covers allow contamination that leads to premature joint wear and eventual failure.
Failed dust covers allow dirt and water into suspension joints, causing accelerated wear and eventual joint failure. While the car remains safe to drive initially, contaminated joints will require expensive replacement within 6-12 months. Early replacement of dust covers prevents much more costly joint replacement.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Daihatsu Sirion common problems page.
Based on 39k real DVSA MOT tests, the Daihatsu Sirion fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is power steering fault at 151x the fleet average, followed by anti-roll bar links worn (141x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Daihatsu Sirion MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £45–£75 at an independent garage.
See the full Daihatsu Sirion service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Daihatsu Sirion has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. The second generation (2005-2010) is the one to buy, built on the 2006 Toyota Yaris platform with better interior space, sharper handling, and improved refinement. The 1.3-litre engine is the sweet spot — enough power without the thirst of the later 1.5. Avoid the first-gen 1.0-litre unless it will only ever see city streets.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Daihatsu Sirion, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Daihatsu Sirion issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.