City car · 1998–2011 cars
Daihatsu Sirion reliability
The Daihatsu Sirion fails 37.8% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 22,541 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Daihatsu Sirion before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 37.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 2% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 22,541
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 4,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Daihatsu Sirion ages
Each point is the share of Daihatsu Sirions of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Daihatsu Sirion | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 27.1% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 32.1% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 33.5% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 36.6% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 40% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 41.5% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 41.5% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 43.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 39.4% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 45.6% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 49.7% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst Daihatsu Sirion years
2009 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 370 | 28.4% | 13% fewer fails | 58,769 |
| 2009 Sirion | 3,081 | 32.6% | 6% fewer fails | 63,515 |
| 2008 Sirion | 6,497 | 35.8% | 1% fewer fails | 65,255 |
| 2007 Sirion | 4,990 | 37.7% | 0% more fails | 68,839 |
| 2006 Sirion | 2,668 | 40.6% | 5% more fails | 71,612 |
| 2005 Sirion | 2,731 | 41.2% | 4% more fails | 73,204 |
| 2004 | 406 | 43.3% | 13% more fails | 67,901 |
| 2003 | 479 | 40.5% | 6% more fails | 67,433 |
| 2002 | 498 | 45.8% | 23% more fails | 63,958 |
| 2001 | 294 | 44.9% | 21% more fails | 72,678 |
| 2000 | 205 | 43.9% | 28% more fails | 61,367 |
| 1999 | 236 | 50.4% | 54% more fails | 54,966 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Daihatsu Sirion
Its weak spot is suspension: 26% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension16.8%26% above avg
- Lights and electrics14.1%15% below avg
- Brakes9.6%2% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.7%5% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure6.5%9% above avg
- Tyres5.5%10% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.9%2% above avg
- Steering3.1%24% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.4%13% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 6.49% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.86% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Stop lamp not working 2.96% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Position lamp not working 2.86% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 2.5% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
- 6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 2.45% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 7
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 2.45% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.14% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Daihatsu Sirion's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy13.74%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit11.55%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking11.39%
- Brake disc pitted or scored7.83%
- Linkage ball joint slight play6.02%
- Suspension ball joint slight play5.65%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Daihatsu Sirion
- 1
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Daihatsu Sirion covers about 4,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol100%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Red, Blue, Black, Gold
Average engine size: 1.2 litres.
Compare
How the Daihatsu Sirion compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 500 | 29.9% | about average for its age |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 18.1% | about average for its age |
| Volkswagen Lupo | 39.8% | about average for its age |
| Daihatsu Sirion | 37.8% | about average for its age |
| Smart City Coupe | 41.1% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Amica | 43% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler Ypsilon | 36.3% | 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Daihatsu models.
Questions
Daihatsu Sirion questions, answered
Is the Daihatsu Sirion reliable?
On MOT results, the Daihatsu Sirion is about average: it fails 37.8% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 12 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Daihatsu Sirion MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Daihatsu Sirion are suspension ball joint excessively worn (6.49% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (3.86% of tests), stop lamp not working (2.96% of tests). By area, suspension fails 16.8% of its tests.
Which Daihatsu Sirion year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (5% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Daihatsu Sirion do a year?
A typical Daihatsu Sirion covers about 4,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Daihatsu Sirion before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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