Used car guide

2009 Daihatsu Materia: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Daihatsu Materia first registered in 2009: we looked at the 497 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 497 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

497MOTs of 2009 cars, done in 2023–2025
68%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 59%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Daihatsu Materia?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Daihatsu Materia than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.7× usual
    Daihatsu Materia
    19.7% All 2009 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Number plate lights: 4% here, against 8.3% of all 2009 cars.

Common 2009 Daihatsu Materia MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Daihatsu Materia MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% 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.

  • Brakes
    39% 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.

  • Tyres
    30% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% 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
    10% 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 2009 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 rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2009 Daihatsu Materia as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Daihatsu Materia compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010–Too few tests
2008762Suspension 48%
2007544Suspension 50%

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 Materia cars first registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score