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

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 Move?

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 Move?

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.

Is the 1997 Daihatsu Move reliable?

Based on MOT data from 921 vehicles, the 1997 Daihatsu Move has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Daihatsu Move?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Daihatsu Move are: Fuel pipe/s corroded (49.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (41.5% of vehicles), Oil leak (40.2% 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 Move?

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 Move (1997)

921 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.9% first-time pass rate

1997 Daihatsu Move

CarHunch analysed 921 real MOT records for the 1997 Daihatsu Move. 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

The 1997 Daihatsu Move has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.3%, which is 10 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these ageing vehicles are moderately more troublesome than typical cars of their era. With 14.4% of these cars having recorded a dangerous defect at some point, reliability concerns exist but aren't severe enough to be a dealbreaker for budget-conscious buyers.

At a median mileage of around 60,000 miles for a 27-year-old car, these examples have seen relatively light use, yet they're still averaging 2.54 failures and 8.9 advisories per test, indicating that age and component wear are the primary culprits rather than high mileage stress. Before committing to one, budget for routine remedial work and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and exhaust systems—the typical weak spots on Japanese microcars of this vintage.

The 1997 Daihatsu Move has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

71.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

14.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.54

Over 8.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 48k–77k

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 8.9 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 921 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 921 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 49.5%

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

Tyre wear 41.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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 22%

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

Brake wear 19.4%

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

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

Suspension & steering 18.2%

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear coil spring corroded · …

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 921 Daihatsu Move cars.

Before you buy a 1997 Daihatsu Move

Based on MOT data from 921 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.4% 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 (100%)	920	71.9%	2.54

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,914 Daihatsu Move vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 44.2%

846

Green 23.1%

443

Silver 20.8%

399

White 9.7%

186

Black 0.6%

Purple 0.6%

Maroon 0.5%

Blue 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Daihatsu Move 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.

60,302

typical

47,575

low mileage

76,538

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Daihatsu Move vehicles fall between 47,575 and 76,538 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,575 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.

✓ 47,575–76,538 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Daihatsu Moves sit.

⚠ Over 103,326 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 Move — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1997 Daihatsu Moves are still active.

Numbers are declining — 12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% 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

8.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.54

Avg failures per vehicle

8.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1998 1999

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

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

Buyer beware — pass it on