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 $500 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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 NZ/AU 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 WOF 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 WOF sheets

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 WOF sheets and any rust-repair history.

Parts involved: Body corrosion.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, 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 WOF sheets?”
“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 has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

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 NZ/AU 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 WOF 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?

$500 to $2,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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 WOF sheets and any rust-repair history. Look here: Wheel arches, sills, subframe and suspension mounting points