Daihatsu Copen
From 1,954 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre seriously damaged and vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 225 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 225 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 49 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 47 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 46 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 36 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 32 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 29 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 25 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 24 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 24 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 57.4% of Copen failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 22.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £211.
Daihatsu Copen on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 59 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 56. At this rate, roughly 29.6 years until none remain. Now at 73.5% of its peak (2,252 in 2009 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,036 | 620 | +1 | -8 | -7 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,036 | 627 | +2 | -12 | -10 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,002 | 671 | +0 | -20 | -20 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,031 | 662 | +0 | -19 | -19 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,132 | 580 | +0 | -0 | +7 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,139 | 566 | +1 | -0 | +13 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,098 | 594 | +0 | -41 | -41 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,119 | 614 | +0 | -10 | -10 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 82.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2008 | 80.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2007 | 76% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2006 | 68.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
3 earlier years
| 2005 | 78% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 74.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 2003 | 73.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
Typical mileage
Half of all Copens tested had between 42,407 and 76,254 miles on the clock.
At 63,592 median miles, the Copen has 0.036 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Daihatsu models
| Daihatsu Sirion | 68.1% |
| Daihatsu Terios | 68.3% |
| Daihatsu Fourtrak | 67.5% |
| Daihatsu Charade | 65.5% |
| Daihatsu Hijet | 65.8% |
Common questions
What is the Daihatsu Copen MOT pass rate?
The Daihatsu Copen has a 77.1% MOT pass rate based on 1,954 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Daihatsu Copen?
The most common MOT failure on the Daihatsu Copen is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 225 failures. Other common issues include a tyre seriously damaged.
How many Daihatsu Copens are on UK roads?
There are 1,036 Daihatsu Copens currently licensed on UK roads, with 620 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Daihatsu Copen at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Daihatsu Copen is 63,592 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 42,407 and 76,254 miles.
Buying a used Copen?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 77.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £211 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 57.4% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.