Used car guide

2004 Daihatsu Charade: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Daihatsu Charades, from 269 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 269 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

269MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
2,900typical miles a year
3.4×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Daihatsu Charades than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Ball joint3.4× usual
    Daihatsu Charade
    22.3% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.2%, against 3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Wipers2.6× usual
    Daihatsu Charade
    12.6% All 2004 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 3.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.1× usual
    Daihatsu Charade
    14.5% All 2004 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.6× usual
    Daihatsu Charade
    12.3% All 2004 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.8% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2004 Daihatsu Charade MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    63% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    36% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    32% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    17% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006208Suspension 54%
2005227Suspension 57%
2003195Suspension 62%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Daihatsu Charades registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score