Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Daihatsu Materia?

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 2008 Daihatsu Materia?

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 2008 Daihatsu Materia?

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 2008 Daihatsu Materia vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

36% 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 2008 Daihatsu Materia reliable?

Based on MOT data from 363 vehicles, the 2008 Daihatsu Materia has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Daihatsu Materia?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Daihatsu Materia are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (61.3% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (41.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (37.8% 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 2008 Daihatsu Materia?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Daihatsu Materia (2008)

363 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Daihatsu Materia

CarHunch analysed 363 real MOT records for the 2008 Daihatsu Materia. 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 Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 363 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2008 Daihatsu Materia's 81.8% first-time pass rate sits slightly above the UK average of 80%, suggesting broadly average reliability—but the 36.1% of vehicles that have recorded a dangerous defect is a genuine red flag for buyers and warrants a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic. With a median mileage of just 57,832 miles for a 16-year-old car, these Materias have been relatively lightly used, which partly explains the respectable pass rate.

The real concern emerges in the detail: owners face nearly 3 failures per test and over 20 advisories on average, indicating that while cars might scrape through their MOT, they're accumulating niggling problems. Before committing to purchase, have a pre-MOT inspection done focusing on suspension, braking components, and electrics—the areas where advisories typically cluster on older Japanese city cars—to avoid inheriting a vehicle that passes but needs expensive work soon after.

The 2008 Daihatsu Materia has a decent first-time pass rate (82.3%), 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

82.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.99

Over 15.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

58k

Middle half: 42k–71k

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 20.4 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 363 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 363 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 61.3%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

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

Tyre wear 37.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 21.2%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 363 Daihatsu Materia cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Daihatsu Materia

Based on MOT data from 363 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.1% 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 (97%)	352	82%	3.07

Colour Breakdown

Based on 912 Daihatsu Materia vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 25.2%

230

Grey 23%

210

Blue 19.1%

174

Maroon 18.5%

169

Black 14.1%

129

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Daihatsu Materia 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.

57,832

typical

41,786

low mileage

70,854

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Daihatsu Materia vehicles fall between 41,786 and 70,854 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 41,786 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.

✓ 41,786–70,854 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Daihatsu Materias sit.

⚠ Over 95,652 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Daihatsu Materia — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 62% of 2008 Daihatsu Materias are still active.

204 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 62% of the peak remain.

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

15.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.99

Avg failures per vehicle

20.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2009

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Daihatsu Materia stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing