Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak?

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 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak?

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 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak?

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 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,428 vehicles, the 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.2%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak are: Fuel pipe/s corroded (57.5% of vehicles), Oil leak (39.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (33.2% 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 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak?

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 Fourtrak (1996)

1,428 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.2% first-time pass rate

1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak

CarHunch analysed 1,428 real MOT records for the 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak. 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 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 67.2% compared to 80%—and a concerning 24.9% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects, which is well above acceptable levels for a prospective buyer. This is a real concern if you're considering one; the high prevalence of serious safety issues should factor heavily into your decision.

At 111,000 miles median, these Fourtraks are showing their age as you'd expect for a 1996 model, and the averages tell the story: owners face 4.15 failures and nearly 20 advisories per test, pointing to wear across multiple systems. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake condition, structural rust, and suspension integrity—the high dangerous defect rate suggests these are the problem areas across the fleet.

The 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.2% 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

67.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

24.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.15

Over 12.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

111k

Middle half: 93k–133k

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 19.7 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 1,428 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 1,428 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 57.5%

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

Tyre wear 33.2%

Offside Rear 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.

Seat belts 32.8%

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

Suspension & steering 30.1%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play

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

Exhaust & emissions 27.2%

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Lighting 26.9%

Offside Rear fog lamp not working

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

Brake wear 23.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,428 Daihatsu Fourtrak cars.

Before you buy a 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak

Based on MOT data from 1,428 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 24.9% 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 (100%)	1,423	67.3%	4.16

Colour Breakdown

Based on 22,961 Daihatsu Fourtrak vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Green 28%

6,435

Blue 27.3%

6,271

Red 15.1%

3,462

Grey 13.8%

3,163

Black 8.7%

1,988

White 4.8%

1,091

Silver 1.4%

318

Maroon 0.7%

158

Yellow 0.2%

Purple 0.1%

Orange 0.1%

Multi-colour 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak 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.

111,432

typical

93,104

low mileage

132,931

high mileage

Half of all 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak vehicles fall between 93,104 and 132,931 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 93,104 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.

✓ 93,104–132,931 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1996 Daihatsu Fourtraks sit.

⚠ Over 179,456 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 16% of 1996 Daihatsu Fourtraks are still active.

Numbers are declining — 94 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (16% 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

12.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.15

Avg failures per vehicle

19.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 1996 Daihatsu Fourtrak stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on