Daihatsu Materia MOT Failures
An analysis of 5,288 real DVSA MOT tests on the Daihatsu Materia — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: M401 (2007–2011).
Where the Daihatsu Materia fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Daihatsu Materia is anti-roll bar links worn — this model is 10 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 5,288 MOT tests, 5.39% of all Daihatsu Materia tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include axle or kingpin wear (8.3x the fleet average), subframe bushes or mounts worn (39x the fleet average), suspension component damaged or corroded (37x the fleet average), and structural corrosion (9.5x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Daihatsu Materia'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 4 categories: Suspension, Bodywork, Lights & Electrics, Brakes. If you're inspecting a Daihatsu Materia 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 Materia'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 Materia specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are subframe bushes or mounts worn (39x the average) and suspension component damaged or corroded (37x). headlight fault (8.0x) and brake pipes corroded (5.3x) 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 Materia specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are subframe bushes or mounts worn (18x the average) and anti-roll bar links worn (10x). structural corrosion (9.5x) and axle or kingpin wear (8.3x) 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 Materia specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are axle or kingpin wear (6.0x the average) and significant brake effort recorded with no brake... (6.0x). anti-roll bar links worn (5.2x) and anti-roll bar links worn also appear frequently.
The shift from subframe bushes or mounts worn at lower mileages to axle or kingpin wear 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 Materia specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Suspension mounting point structural weakness Dangerous
The load-bearing structure around suspension component mounting points shows significantly reduced strength or inadequate repair. Affects M401; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£2,000.
Suspension component corrosion Major
Suspension components suffer from excessive damage or corrosion at dramatically higher rates than the fleet average. Affects M401; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£1,200.
Suspension joint and bush wear Major
Suspension pins, bushes and joints wear at 11 times the fleet average, with peak failures at 60-80k miles. Affects M401; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£800.
Brake pipe corrosion Major
Brake pipes suffer damage or excessive corrosion at 5.3 times the fleet average, with peak failures occurring as early as 20-40k miles. Affects M401; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£600.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Daihatsu Materia common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Daihatsu Materia
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Daihatsu Materia:
Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn, axle or kingpin wear, subframe bushes or mounts worn, suspension component damaged or corroded.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about suspension mounting point structural weakness and suspension component corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £500. 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 Materia?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Daihatsu Materia MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Daihatsu Materia?
Based on 5,288 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is anti-roll bar links worn — at 10x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include axle or kingpin wear and subframe bushes or mounts worn.
Is the Daihatsu Materia reliable based on MOT data?
The Daihatsu Materia has 8 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag suspension mounting point structural weakness 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 Materia most commonly fails on axle or kingpin wear and significant brake effort recorded with no brake.... Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are subframe bushes or mounts worn and suspension component damaged or corroded.
How do I check a Daihatsu Materia'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.