Used car guide

2005 Daihatsu Charade: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Daihatsu Charades, from 227 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 227 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

227MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
2,900typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for ball joint dust cover

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Daihatsu Charades than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.5× usual
    Daihatsu Charade
    16.7% All 2005 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1.8% of all 2005 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.

  • Ball joint2.6× usual
    Daihatsu Charade
    17.2% All 2005 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 3% of all 2005 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 2005 Daihatsu Charade MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    57% 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
    30% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006208Suspension 54%
2004269Suspension 63%
2003195Suspension 62%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Daihatsu Charades registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score