Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Daihatsu Terios vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

35% 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 Terios reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,065 vehicles, the 2008 Daihatsu Terios 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 Terios?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Daihatsu Terios are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (87.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (39.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (39.1% 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 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 (2008)

1,065 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Daihatsu Terios

CarHunch analysed 1,065 real MOT records for the 2008 Daihatsu Terios. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2008 Daihatsu Terios passes MOT slightly better than the UK average, with an 82.2% first-time pass rate versus 80%, but nearly 35% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for buyers considering an older example. This suggests the model is broadly mechanically sound, yet carries meaningful safety risks that warrant careful inspection before purchase.

At around 60,000 miles for a 16-year-old car, these Terios show relatively modest mileage, indicating many have been lightly used or well-maintained. The average vehicle racks up 3.16 failures and 23.7 advisories per test, pointing to typical wear-and-tear issues rather than systemic design flaws; get a pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and electrics, and factor in routine servicing costs to keep one of these reliable.

The 2008 Daihatsu Terios 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)

34.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.16

Over 16.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 45k–76k

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 23.7 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 1,065 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 1,065 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 87.6%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

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

Suspension & steering 39.5%

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · …

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

Tyre wear 33.6%

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Nearside Front 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 21.3%

Rear Exhaust mounting defective

Other issues 19.3%

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

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 1,065 Daihatsu Terios cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Daihatsu Terios

Based on MOT data from 1,065 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 34.7% 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%)	1,060	82.2%	3.16

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 2008 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.

60,033

typical

44,562

low mileage

76,456

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Daihatsu Terios vehicles fall between 44,562 and 76,456 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 44,562 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.

✓ 44,562–76,456 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Daihatsu Terioss sit.

⚠ Over 103,215 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 Terios — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 69% of 2008 Daihatsu Terioss are still active.

693 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 69% 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

16.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.16

Avg failures per vehicle

23.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009

Or browse all models: Daihatsu →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing