Used car guide

2002 Daihatsu Hijet: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Daihatsu Hijet first registered in 2002: we looked at the 335 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 335 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

335MOTs of 2002 cars, done in 2023–2025
55%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 58%)
2,800typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2002 Daihatsu Hijet?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2002 Daihatsu Hijet than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Daihatsu Hijet
    22.4% All 2002 cars
    10.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 4.2% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Rear fog light6.5× usual
    Daihatsu Hijet
    10.4% All 2002 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 1.5% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Tread depth: 6.6% here, against 17.2% of all 2002 cars.

Common 2002 Daihatsu Hijet MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2002 Daihatsu Hijet MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    45% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    37% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    21% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    19% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    17% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2002 Daihatsu Hijet

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2002 Daihatsu Hijet as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 6.5× as often on the 2002 Daihatsu Hijet as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Daihatsu Hijet?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Daihatsu Hijet compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2003242Lights and electrics 43%
2001263Lights and electrics 39%
2000273Brakes 40%
1999371Lights and electrics 45%
1998233Lights and electrics 45%
1997230Brakes 43%
1996103Lights and electrics 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Daihatsu Hijet cars first registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score