Used car guide · 2007–2010

Daihatsu Materia common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Daihatsu Materia, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 1,803 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

1,803MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
589on the UK register
2007best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2010200920082007

What usually goes wrong with a Daihatsu Materia?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Daihatsu Materia in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Daihatsu Materia MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 9.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Steering swivel joints

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Daihatsu Materia MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2007 Daihatsu Materia did best (67% passed first time, 10 points above all 2007 cars) and the 2008 did worst (65%, 8 points above all 2008 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200968%59% +9497 (small sample)
200865%57% +8762
200767%57% +10544

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Daihatsu Materia

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

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the Daihatsu Materia as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Daihatsu Materia as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Daihatsu Materia as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Daihatsu Materia?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score