Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Daihatsu Terios?

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 2003 Daihatsu Terios?

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 2003 Daihatsu Terios?

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 2003 Daihatsu Terios vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% 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 2003 Daihatsu Terios reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,238 vehicles, the 2003 Daihatsu Terios has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Daihatsu Terios?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Daihatsu Terios are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.1% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (56% 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 2003 Daihatsu Terios?

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 Terios (2003)

1,238 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.3% first-time pass rate

2003 Daihatsu Terios

CarHunch analysed 1,238 real MOT records for the 2003 Daihatsu Terios. 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 2003 Daihatsu Terios falls short of the UK average with a first-time pass rate of 75.3% versus 80%, and that gap reflects real structural issues—nearly a third of these cars (32.8%) have recorded dangerous defects during MOT testing, which is a significant buyer concern. At an average of 4.53 failures per vehicle, these cars need more work to pass than most, suggesting wear-related problems are endemic to the age and design.

With a median mileage of just 62,414 miles for a 21-year-old car, these Terios have been relatively lightly used, yet they're still racking up an average of 22.8 advisories each—pointing to age-related deterioration rather than abuse. Before buying, budget for suspension, braking, and emissions system attention, and factor in that one in three examples will have a history of dangerous issues.

The 2003 Daihatsu Terios has a decent first-time pass rate (75.3%), 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

75.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

32.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.53

Over 16.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

62k

Middle half: 49k–77k

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 22.8 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 1,238 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 1,238 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 60.4%

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.

Brake wear 56%

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

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

Exhaust & emissions 44%

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases

Suspension & steering 27.9%

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside 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.

Wipers & washers 27.3%

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,238 Daihatsu Terios cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Daihatsu Terios

Based on MOT data from 1,238 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.8% 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 (99%)	1,231	75.3%	4.54

Colour Breakdown

Based on 14,953 Daihatsu Terios vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 27.3%

4,083

Blue 18.9%

2,833

Green 12.7%

1,892

Grey 12.4%

1,858

Black 12.2%

1,831

Purple 7.7%

1,154

Red 5%

752

White 1.6%

244

Multi-colour 1.5%

220

Maroon 0.4%

Yellow 0.1%

Turquoise 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Daihatsu Terios 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.

62,414

typical

48,743

low mileage

76,783

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Daihatsu Terios vehicles fall between 48,743 and 76,783 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 48,743 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.

✓ 48,743–76,783 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Daihatsu Terioss sit.

⚠ Over 103,657 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Daihatsu Terios — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 10% of 2003 Daihatsu Terioss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 106 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% 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

16.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.53

Avg failures per vehicle

22.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Daihatsu Terios stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing