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

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 Hi Jet?

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 Hi Jet?

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.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet?

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 Hi Jet (1986)

Q: What are common problems with the 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet are: Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (85.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (57.1% of vehicles), Service brake: efficiency below requirements (42.9% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

379 real MOT outcomes analysed

1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet

CarHunch has 379 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 379 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Daihatsu vehicles below.

Daihatsu Hi — all years → Best year to buy a Hi → Browse all Daihatsu models →

No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Daihatsu Hi Jet you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

MOT statistics not available

We have 379 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT

Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Across 379 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Suspension & steering 85.7%

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Steering column top bearing slightly worn · …

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

Brake wear 42.9%

Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort · …

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

Tyre wear 28.6%

Nearside Rear 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.

Lighting 28.6%

Offside Registration plate lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Exhaust & emissions 28.6%

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Wipers & washers 28.6%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Other issues 28.6%

Near side rear bump stop stop corroded.STRONG ADVISE. · Main engine block side wall corroded and leaking coolant.STRONG ADVISE.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1986.

Before you buy a 1986 Daihatsu Hi Jet

Based on MOT data from 379 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.3% 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