Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman?

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 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman?

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 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman?

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 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% 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 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman reliable?

Based on MOT data from 591 vehicles, the 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman has a first-time MOT pass rate of 68.7%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman are: Fuel pipe/s corroded (39.4% of vehicles), Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (30.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear fog lamp not working (30.2% 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 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman?

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 Fieldman (1997)

591 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.7% first-time pass rate

1997 Daihatsu Fieldman

CarHunch analysed 591 real MOT records for the 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman. 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 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman is considerably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 68.7% compared to 80% nationally—meaning roughly one in three examples fails its test. A concerning 24.2% of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a genuine red flag for structural or safety-critical issues.

At around 111,800 miles on the odometer, these cars are running higher mileage than typical for their age, and they're averaging nearly four failures and eighteen advisories per test cycle, indicating widespread wear and deterioration across multiple systems. If you're considering one, factor in substantial repair bills and request a full service history plus a pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, suspension and bodywork integrity.

The 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman has a below-average first-time pass rate (68.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

68.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

24.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.96

Over 11.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

108k

Middle half: 87k–134k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.9 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 591 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 591 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 39.4%

Fuel pipe/s corroded · Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Seat belts 30.3%

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

Lighting 30.2%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Tyre wear 27.3%

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

Exhaust & emissions 24%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 23.7%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Brake pipe slightly corroded

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

Suspension & steering 22.4%

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 591 Daihatsu Fieldman cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman

Based on MOT data from 591 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.2% 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
Diesel (99%)	587	68.7%	3.96

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,411 Daihatsu Fieldman vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 40.7%

1,387

Blue 21.6%

737

Grey 17.9%

610

White 12.4%

424

Red 6%

206

Yellow 0.7%

Black 0.3%

Orange 0.2%

Silver 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman 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.

108,169

typical

87,198

low mileage

134,423

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman vehicles fall between 87,198 and 134,423 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 87,198 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.

✓ 87,198–134,423 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Daihatsu Fieldmans sit.

⚠ Over 181,471 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Daihatsu Fieldman — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 1997 Daihatsu Fieldmans are still active.

Numbers are declining — 36 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% 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

11.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.96

Avg failures per vehicle

17.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 1997 Daihatsu Fieldman stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on