MajorCommonBody & Rust

Daihatsu Sirion: Corrosion under the wheel arches, sills and subframe

Corrosion under the wheel arches, sills and subframe is a common body & rust fault on the Daihatsu Sirion on the 2000–2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs ≈A$460 to ≈A$2,300 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Daihatsu Sirion.

Vehicle: Daihatsu Sirion
Years: 2000–2015
System: Body & Rust

This page covers the Daihatsu Sirion as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Daihatsu Sirion faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Body corrosion yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Across both Sirion generations, corrosion is the standout issue in Australian conditions - especially beneath the wheel arches, along the sills, and around suspension mounting points and the subframe. Left alone it moves from surface scale into structure and becomes a roadworthy failure and an expensive weld job. On a cheap older car, rust in the wrong place can be the difference between a bargain and a money pit, so inspect underneath thoroughly.

What you would notice

Flaking or bubbling rust under the arches and along the sills
Crusty rust around the subframe and suspension mounts
Rust flagged on recent roadworthy reports

How to check it

Where to look. Wheel arches, sills, subframe and suspension mounting points

Get underneath with a torch and check the sills, arch lips, subframe and suspension mounts.
Surface rust is manageable; flaking or holed metal near structure is a walk-away.
Ask for recent roadworthy reports and any rust-repair history.

Parts involved: Body corrosion.

What it costs to put right

≈A$460 to ≈A$2,300 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Is there any structural rust on recent roadworthy reports?”
“Has any rust repair or welding been done?”
“Can I get the car up on a hoist for a look underneath?”

Now check the Daihatsu Sirion you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

BreakerYard.com - Daihatsu Sirion common problems and solutions
CarsGuide - Daihatsu Sirion problems and reliability issues

Daihatsu Sirion buyer questions

Is corrosion under the wheel arches, sills and subframe serious on a Daihatsu Sirion?

We rate it major and common on the Daihatsu Sirion. Across both Sirion generations, corrosion is the standout issue in Australian conditions - especially beneath the wheel arches, along the sills, and around suspension mounting points and the subframe. Left alone it moves from surface scale into structure and becomes a roadworthy failure and an expensive weld job. On a cheap older car, rust in the wrong place can be the difference between a bargain and a money pit, so inspect underneath thoroughly.

How much does it cost to fix on a Daihatsu Sirion?

≈A$460 to ≈A$2,300 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Daihatsu Sirion years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2015 Daihatsu Sirion. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Get underneath with a torch and check the sills, arch lips, subframe and suspension mounts. Surface rust is manageable; flaking or holed metal near structure is a walk-away. Ask for recent roadworthy reports and any rust-repair history. Look here: Wheel arches, sills, subframe and suspension mounting points