Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Daihatsu Sirion?

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 1998 Daihatsu Sirion?

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 1998 Daihatsu Sirion?

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 1998 Daihatsu Sirion reliable?

Based on MOT data from 922 vehicles, the 1998 Daihatsu Sirion has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Daihatsu Sirion?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Daihatsu Sirion are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (44.9% of vehicles), Oil leak (29.2% 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 1998 Daihatsu Sirion?

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 Sirion (1998)

922 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.4% first-time pass rate

1998 Daihatsu Sirion

CarHunch analysed 922 real MOT records for the 1998 Daihatsu Sirion. 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 1998 Daihatsu Sirion has a first-time pass rate of 71.3%, which sits 8.7 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests these cars are more likely to need repairs before passing MOT. With 14.1% of vehicles in this cohort ever having had a dangerous defect, it's a moderate concern, though not alarming.

At 55,226 miles median mileage, these 26-year-old cars have covered relatively low annual distances, which is encouraging for wear and tear. The average of 2.94 failures and 10.2 advisories per vehicle indicates ongoing mechanical issues are common; before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and electrical systems, where older Sirions tend to struggle.

The 1998 Daihatsu Sirion has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.4% 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

72.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

14.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.94

Over 10 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

55k

Middle half: 41k–74k

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 10.2 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 922 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 922 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48.4%

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

Other issues 29.2%

Oil leak · Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread

Exhaust & emissions 28.4%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Brake wear 25.1%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Brakes imbalanced across an axle · …

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

Suspension & steering 17.8%

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively 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 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 922 Daihatsu Sirion cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Daihatsu Sirion

Based on MOT data from 922 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.1% 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 (100%)	919	72.4%	2.94

Colour Breakdown

Based on 16,585 Daihatsu Sirion vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26.6%

4,410

Red 24.4%

4,043

Blue 23.5%

3,896

Black 5.9%

986

Green 5.6%

936

Gold 4.8%

801

Cream 3.9%

642

Yellow 2.5%

420

Grey 1.9%

311

Purple 0.4%

Pink 0.3%

Beige 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Daihatsu Sirion 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.

55,226

typical

41,115

low mileage

73,532

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Daihatsu Sirion vehicles fall between 41,115 and 73,532 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 41,115 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.

✓ 41,115–73,532 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Daihatsu Sirions sit.

⚠ Over 99,268 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Daihatsu Sirion — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1998 Daihatsu Sirions are still active.

Numbers are declining — 16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.94

Avg failures per vehicle

10.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Daihatsu Sirion stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on