Daihatsu Sportrak

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 1.6 petrol. 12 of 50 tests failed, 24%.

Better than 64% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• 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 rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
• A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
• Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
• Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

Where it stands out against its peers

• Lights and electrics: failed more often than 92% of 1997 cars — 58% of its 12 failed tests, where an ordinary 1997 car has 37%.

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.

• Brakes — 25% of its failures
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
• Exhaust and emissions — 25% of its failures
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
• Lights and electrics — 58% of its failures
  • Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
• Body and structure — 33% 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
  • Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
• Seat belts and airbags — 25% 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
• Visibility — 25% of its failures