Daihatsu Fourtrak

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1998 2.8 diesel. 110 of 374 tests failed, 29%.

Better than 23% of 1998 cars. The typical one fails 25%, across 269 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
• The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Exhaust system leaking or insecure
• An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

Where it stands out against its peers

• Seat belts and airbags: failed more often than 97% of 1998 cars — 31% of its 110 failed tests, where an ordinary 1998 car has 6%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• Suspension — 57% of its failures
  • A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Brakes — 27% of its failures
• Exhaust and emissions — 13% of its failures
  • Exhaust system leaking or insecure
• Lights and electrics — 48% of its failures
  • An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Body and structure — 45% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
  • Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
• Seat belts and airbags — 31% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

When it starts failing

At 160–180k miles this one fails 31% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

311 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 120k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.