Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1992 Daihatsu Applause?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1992 Daihatsu Applause?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1992 Daihatsu Applause?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1992 Daihatsu Applause reliable?

Based on MOT data from 142 vehicles, the 1992 Daihatsu Applause has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1992 Daihatsu Applause?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1992 Daihatsu Applause are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (62.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (19.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (17.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1992 Daihatsu Applause?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Daihatsu Applause (1992)

142 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63% first-time pass rate

1992 Daihatsu Applause

CarHunch analysed 142 real MOT records for the 1992 Daihatsu Applause. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1992 Daihatsu Applause is a genuinely unreliable prospect by modern MOT standards, with just 63% of vehicles passing first time—a full 17 percentage points below the UK average of 80%. While dangerous defects aren't rampant at 14.1%, the combination of a poor pass rate and an average of 1.68 failures per test suggests chronic mechanical or structural issues that buyers should take seriously.

At 90,333 miles average, these cars have covered reasonable mileage for their age, but the 4.7 advisories per vehicle indicate widespread wear and minor problems that pile up quickly. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the specific failure categories—suspension, emissions, and lighting are typical weak points on Japanese cars of this era—because living with an Applause means planning for repeated MOT expenses.

We have limited data for the 1992 Daihatsu Applause — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

63%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

14.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.68

Over 4.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

86k

Middle half: 66k–107k

For context

These stats describe 142 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 142 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 62.3%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 17.4%

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 15.3%

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Tyre wear 13.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Exhaust & emissions 10.3%

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases · Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1992.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 142 Daihatsu Applause cars.

Before you buy a 1992 Daihatsu Applause

Based on MOT data from 142 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 1992 Daihatsu Applause vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

86,103

typical

65,848

low mileage

106,668

high mileage

Half of all 1992 Daihatsu Applause vehicles fall between 65,848 and 106,668 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 65,848 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 65,848–106,668 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1992 Daihatsu Applauses sit.

⚠ Over 144,001 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

4.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.68

Avg failures per vehicle

4.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Daihatsu Applause: All Applause years → Which year to buy? →

1993

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 1992 Daihatsu Applause stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on