Toyota Corolla years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year
No Toyota Corolla year has an MOT pass rate clearly below the average for vehicles first used in the same year. Above it: 2005–2008, 2019–2022 and 2024. The other 6 years can't be told apart from average.
- Below the average for their first-use yearNone
- Above the average for their first-use year2005–2008, 2019–2022 and 2024
- Can't be told apart from average2001–2004, 2009 and 2023
The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.
First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 78.8% to 79.2%.
In 2025, 79.0% of the 122,225 initial MOT tests on Toyota Corolla cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 76.6%. That is 2.4 points above the same-age average.
Check a specific Corolla
Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate by year
| Year | Chart | Testsmedian miles | Passed first time | Against all vehicles that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024age 1 | 1,55223,200 | 95.6%±1.2 | +1.6 ptsall: 94.0% | |
| 2023age 2 | 3,08149,800 | 91.0%±1.1 | −0.6 ptsall: 91.6% | |
| 2022age 3 | 19,17529,100 | 90.3%±0.5 | +1.8 ptsall: 88.5% | |
| 2021age 4 | 19,97038,500 | 89.6%±0.5 | +2.4 ptsall: 87.2% | |
| 2020age 5 | 18,99245,900 | 89.6%±0.5 | +3.6 ptsall: 86.0% | |
| 2019age 6 | 16,47356,100 | 88.5%±0.5 | +5.0 ptsall: 83.5% | |
| 2009age 16 | 1,130116,700 | 59.6%±2.9 | +1.3 ptsall: 58.3% | |
| 2008age 17 | 2,827123,200 | 59.5%±1.9 | +2.3 ptsall: 57.2% | |
| 2007age 18 | 3,765114,900 | 60.5%±1.6 | +3.1 ptsall: 57.4% | |
| 2006age 19 | 10,816101,400 | 60.0%±1.0 | +3.0 ptsall: 57.0% | |
| 2005age 20 | 9,420104,000 | 59.3%±1.0 | +1.7 ptsall: 57.6% | |
| 2004age 21 | 5,951102,500 | 56.6%±1.3 | −1.2 ptsall: 57.8% | |
| 2003age 22 | 4,481100,200 | 57.4%±1.5 | −1.3 ptsall: 58.7% | |
| 2002age 23 | 2,92499,600 | 60.6%±1.8 | +1.1 ptsall: 59.5% | |
| 2001age 24 | 1,66892,300 | 62.2%±2.4 | +1.1 ptsall: 61.1% |
Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.
When a car's mileage doesn't add upCommon Corolla problems at the MOT
MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.
What to check when viewing a Corolla
Lights and electrics
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Brakes
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.
Tyres
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.
Check a Corolla's MOT historyAfter an MOT advisory
Tyres
Of Toyota Corolla cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a tyre advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 6.7% failed on tyres, against 3.7% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 11,646 and 45,798 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 18.3% of those with a tyre advisory and 17.3% of the others.
Brakes
Of Toyota Corolla cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a brake advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 12.2% failed on brakes, against 7.4% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 9,817 and 47,350 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 20.2% of those with a brake advisory and 16.9% of the others.
Suspension
Of Toyota Corolla cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a suspension advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 10.8% failed on suspension, against 5.9% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 6,581 and 48,080 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 22.8% of those with a suspension advisory and 16.6% of the others.
Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.
How we worked this outToyota Corolla questions
Which Toyota Corolla years have lower MOT pass rates?
Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2005–2008, 2019–2022 and 2024. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.
Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?
MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 79.0% of initial MOT tests on Toyota Corolla cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 76.6%. That is 2.4 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.
What are the most common Toyota Corolla problems at the MOT?
The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 47.0% of failed tests), brakes (in 25.5% of failed tests) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (in 24.2% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.
What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old Toyota Corolla?
At their 2025 MOT tests, Toyota Corolla cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 29,100 miles. Half had more and half had less.
How do I check a specific Corolla's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.
Check a car's MOT history for freeWhat MOT data can't tell you about any Toyota Corolla
Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.
Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't showOther Toyota models
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- Toyota Auris+3.8 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota RAV4+5.2 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota C-HR+1.7 pts against the same-age average
Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.
All 17 Toyota modelsCars ranked by MOT pass rate, by ageSource: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Toyota Corolla cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count