A used Daihatsu Feroza is a fair buy when the body and frame are solid, the seat-belt buckle and evaporative check-valve campaigns have been checked and the title matches the VIN, because Feroza is the name Daihatsu used in many export markets for the same small SUV sold in the U.S. as the Rocky. The Wikipedia Rocky page notes the Feroza name on export models. U.S. examples are usually titled as Rocky. On Nov. 5, 2026, the NHTSA recall API returned 95V103010 (front safety belt buckle release buttons can break) and 10V083000 (fuel vapor evaporative check valve) for 1990-1992 Rocky queries. A Feroza model query returned none, so run the VIN under Rocky. Use the NHTSA recall lookup before you pay.
Feroza versus Rocky identity
Confirm whether the truck is a U.S.-market Rocky or an export Feroza that entered as a used import. Match the VIN or chassis number to the title. Our Daihatsu Rocky guide covers the U.S. model in more depth, and our Isuzu Amigo guide covers a rival small soft-top SUV.
Belt and evaporative campaigns
Ask whether 95V103010 and 10V083000 were done. Test every front buckle and look for evaporative codes or fuel smell near the vapor lines. Our open recall guide explains how campaigns show up.
Rust, frame and soft top
Check the frame, the floors, the rockers and the rear quarters. On soft-top trucks, inspect the top bows, the seals and the door bottoms for rot.
Import paperwork, if it applies
If the truck never had a U.S. title, ask for the customs entry and the HS-7. Our 25-year import checklist covers that path.
A test drive that tells you something
Drive it from cold, not after the seller has warmed it up. Listen for ticks and knocks at start-up, watch the mirror for smoke, and check that every gauge works. Try every gear, a hard stop and a slow full-lock turn both ways, then look under the truck for fresh drips. Bring a flashlight and a magnet for filler checks on the lower panels and cab corners.
Insurance, registration and inspection
Call your insurer with the VIN before you pay. A collector or agreed-value policy may need mileage limits, secure storage or photos, while a standard policy may value the vehicle low after a loss. Ask your state DMV whether the vehicle needs a VIN inspection, a safety inspection or an emissions test at transfer, and what happens if a prior registration lapsed for years. Budget for new tires if the date codes are old, even when the tread looks fine.
When to walk away
- Broken front buckle buttons.
- Frame or floor rot.
- Missing import papers on a never-titled truck.
- A title VIN that does not match the plate.
Questions to ask the seller
- Is it a U.S. Rocky or an export Feroza?
- Were 95V103010 and 10V083000 done?
- What rust repair was done?
- Has the title ever been branded?
Reading the history on a decades-old car
Do not expect a long service log. Records from the 1970s and 1980s were often never reported, so the report matters most for title brands, odometer readings at title transfers and registration gaps by state. A car that moved from a coastal or rust-belt state to a dry one may have been retitled; look at the dates and ask why. An approved NMVTIS check adds salvage and junk records from insurers and recyclers. If the odometer readings go backward or the car shows as exempt, ask for the paper trail before you price it. Our odometer discrepancy guide explains what those entries mean.
Private-sale paperwork
Most cars like this sell privately. Make sure the name on the title matches the seller ID, the VIN on the title matches the plate and the stamping on the car, and any old lien is released in writing. Our lien release guide walks through that step. Pay by a traceable method, get a dated bill of sale, and do not accept an open title signed by someone who is not present.
How to price it
Clean, original Feroza/Rocky trucks sell above neglected ones. Compare recent sales on Hagerty when comps exist, then subtract rust, soft-top work and campaign repairs.
What the report costs
As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.
On a car this old, read the report for title brands and odometer readings first; service entries are often thin.
Sources
- NHTSA recall lookup (API checked Nov. 5, 2026; 1990-1992 Rocky: 95V103010, 10V083000; Feroza model query empty)
- Daihatsu Rocky (Feroza export name), Wikipedia
- NMVTIS
- Hagerty (valuation tools)
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