Daihatsu Charade MOT Failures
An analysis of 35,137 real DVSA MOT tests on the Daihatsu Charade — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: G203 (2003–2012).
Where the Daihatsu Charade fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Daihatsu Charade is headlight fault — this model is 84 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 35,137 MOT tests, 15.39% of all Daihatsu Charade tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include coil springs broken (83x the fleet average), emissions failure (25x the fleet average), body, cab or chassis corroded at a mounting point (19x the fleet average), and structural corrosion (19x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Daihatsu Charade's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Exhaust & Emissions, Bodywork, Brakes. If you're inspecting a Daihatsu Charade before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Daihatsu Charade's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Daihatsu Charade specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are headlight fault (84x the average) and coil springs broken (83x). axle or kingpin wear (72x) and subframe bushes or mounts worn (63x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Daihatsu Charade specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (42x the average) and brake pipes corroded (39x). coil springs broken (27x) and structural corrosion (19x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Daihatsu Charade specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (40x the average) and coil springs broken (36x). vehicle structure corroded to the extent that t... (9.1x) and seat mounting fault (7.6x) also appear frequently.
The shift from headlight fault at lower mileages to abs fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Daihatsu Charade specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Subframe mounting point structural corrosion (G203) Dangerous
The load-bearing structure around subframe, spring and suspension mounting points suffers severe corrosion that reduces structural integrity. Affects G203.
Front suspension swivel pin and bush wear (G203) Major
The stub axle swivel pins and bushes wear excessively on this model, failing MOT at 71.8 times the fleet average. Affects G203.
Suspension component wear (G203) Major
Suspension pins, bushes and joints wear at 62.8 times the fleet average rate. Affects G203.
Vehicle structure corrosion (G203) Major
General vehicle structure corrosion affects this model at 17 times the fleet average, reducing the rigidity of the body assembly. Affects G203.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Daihatsu Charade common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Charade
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Daihatsu Charade:
Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault. Suspension — check for coil springs broken, subframe bushes or mounts worn, abs fault. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Bodywork — check for body, cab or chassis corroded at a mounting point, structural corrosion.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point structural corrosion and front suspension swivel pin and bush wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Daihatsu Charade?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Daihatsu Charade MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Daihatsu Charade?
Based on 35,137 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is headlight fault — at 84x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include coil springs broken and emissions failure.
Is the Daihatsu Charade reliable based on MOT data?
The Daihatsu Charade has 16 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag subframe mounting point structural corrosion as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Daihatsu Charade most commonly fails on abs fault and coil springs broken. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are headlight fault and coil springs broken.
How do I check a Daihatsu Charade's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.