Thinking about buying a used Daihatsu Move (1998–2018) in New Zealand? We've documented 20 known faults for this model spanning engine, transmission, body & rust, and electrical. Each researched and verified before it's published. The most serious issues here are rated critical. Two are set out in full below — the rest, with the symptoms, repair costs and checks for each, are free with an account.
20
Critical
$300–$1,200
6
The EF-VE 0.66L engine fitted to the L900 Move is an interference design — if the timing belt snaps or jumps teeth, pistons contact valves causing immediate catastrophic engine damage. JDM imports frequently arrive with unknown belt history. Factory interval is 60,000 km or 5 years. The water pump is also belt-driven and should be replaced at the same time.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
As a tall, light kei car used mostly around town, the Move wears its front suspension bushes, strut mounts and shocks on rough roads and high mileage, producing knocks and creaks and a floaty ride. It is not usually a safety issue on its own but will fail a WOF once a bush or mount perishes badly, and a car that clonks over every bump needs work. Cheap to fix individually, but a neglected front end can add up.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
Symptoms, what to check, where to look and what to ask the seller — for every fault above. Free with an account, no card needed. One account covers one vehicle, so make it the car you’re actually looking at.
This page covers the model. Enter the plate of the actual car you’re looking at and see its year, engine, safety rating and register flags — free, no account needed.
Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 20 documented faults for the Daihatsu Move, the recurring problem areas are engine, transmission, and body & rust. A Daihatsu Move with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.
We've catalogued 20 known faults for the Daihatsu Move, covering engine, transmission, and body & rust. Two are written out in full on this page. The rest — with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each — are free once you create an account.
Most single repairs on the Daihatsu Move fall between $300–$1,200 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 20 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.
Yes. A Daihatsu Move inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $17.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.