Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 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 2005 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 2005 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.

How many 2005 Daihatsu Charade vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2005 Daihatsu Charade reliable?

Based on MOT data from 802 vehicles, the 2005 Daihatsu Charade has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2005 Daihatsu Charade?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Daihatsu Charade are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (52.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.2% 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 2005 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 (2005)

802 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.5% first-time pass rate

2005 Daihatsu Charade

CarHunch analysed 802 real MOT records for the 2005 Daihatsu Charade. 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 Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2005 Daihatsu Charade's 77.4% first-time pass rate trails the UK average of 80%, and that's before you factor in the troubling 33% of vehicles that have recorded dangerous defects — well above what you'd expect for a car this age. This suggests reliability issues that go beyond typical wear and tear for a nearly two-decade-old city car.

At 44,250 miles on average, these Charades are running relatively light for their age, yet they're still racking up 3.91 failures per test and nearly 19 advisories, pointing to persistent mechanical problems rather than just high-mileage fatigue. If you're considering one, budget for repairs and get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers braking and suspension systems, where the dangerous defect rate suggests weakness.

The 2005 Daihatsu Charade has a decent first-time pass rate (77.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

77.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

33%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.91

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

41k

Middle half: 27k–56k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 802 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 802 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 53%

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

Brake wear 25.8%

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Wipers & washers 23.7%

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Exhaust & emissions 16.3%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 802 Daihatsu Charade cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Daihatsu Charade

Based on MOT data from 802 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33% 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 (99%)	796	77.4%	3.93

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 2005 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.

40,990

typical

27,266

low mileage

56,088

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Daihatsu Charade vehicles fall between 27,266 and 56,088 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 27,266 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.

✓ 27,266–56,088 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Daihatsu Charades sit.

⚠ Over 75,718 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Daihatsu Charade — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 2005 Daihatsu Charades are still active.

Numbers are declining — 211 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (30% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.91

Avg failures per vehicle

18.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Daihatsu Charade stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing