Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1986 Daihatsu Charade?

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 1986 Daihatsu Charade?

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 1986 Daihatsu Charade?

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 1986 Daihatsu Charade reliable?

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles, the 1986 Daihatsu Charade has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1986 Daihatsu Charade?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1986 Daihatsu Charade are: Oil leak (24.5% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (14.4% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (13% 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 1986 Daihatsu Charade?

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 Charade (1986)

235 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.9% first-time pass rate

1986 Daihatsu Charade

CarHunch analysed 235 real MOT records for the 1986 Daihatsu Charade. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1986 Daihatsu Charade — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

73.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

4.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.54

Over 2.3 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

56k

Middle half: 40k–73k

For context

These stats describe 235 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 235 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 24.5%

Oil leak · Fuel pipe/s corroded

Suspension & steering 14.4%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded

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

Brake wear 13%

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.

Tyre wear 11.3%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · …

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

Seat belts 10.4%

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1986.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 235 Daihatsu Charade cars.

Before you buy a 1986 Daihatsu Charade

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.7% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (93%)	218	74.4%	0.55

Colour Breakdown

Based on 15,121 Daihatsu Charade vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 22.4%

3,386

Red 18.1%

2,732

Silver 12.5%

1,885

Grey 12.1%

1,824

White 11.3%

1,704

Green 5.4%

817

Gold 4.8%

732

Purple 4.4%

660

Black 3.9%

592

Turquoise 3.1%

473

Pink 1.6%

239

Beige 0.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1986 Daihatsu Charade 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.

56,493

typical

40,408

low mileage

72,573

high mileage

Half of all 1986 Daihatsu Charade vehicles fall between 40,408 and 72,573 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 40,408 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.

✓ 40,408–72,573 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1986 Daihatsu Charades sit.

⚠ Over 97,973 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

2.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.54

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 1986 Daihatsu Charade stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on