2003 Daihatsu Hijet — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 584 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Daihatsu Hijet, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 69.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.9% in the 90-120k group versus 26.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.5% | 137 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 85 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 48 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 47 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.3% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 70 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 66 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 54 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 36 |
| 5 | Washers | 33 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 31 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.1% | 158 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.9% | 151 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.5% | 114 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.7% | 109 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.4% | 96 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 80 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 68 | 26.5% |
| 30-60k | 232 | 28.0% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 33.7% |
| 90-120k | 73 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 130 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 115 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 95 | 28.4% |
| 2025 | 93 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Hijet
Before buying a 2003 Daihatsu Hijet, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 23.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (23.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (8.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2003 Daihatsu Hijets pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 584 2003 Daihatsu Hijet MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Daihatsu Hijet?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.5% of tests, followed by brakes (14.5%).
Does the 2003 Hijet get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 584 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.