Toyota GT86 years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

2,680 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2012–2013 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Both Toyota GT86 years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2012–2013
Can't be told apart from averageNone

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.

79.9%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 78.4% to 81.4%.

Toyota GT86, all years79.9%
Same-age average, all vehicles64.8%

In 2025, 79.9% of the 2,680 initial MOT tests on Toyota GT86 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 64.8%. That is 15.1 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific GT86

Its own MOT history, free.

Toyota GT86 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2013age 12		1,51972,300	80.8%±2.1	+15.0 ptsall: 65.8%
2012age 13		1,16176,000	78.7%±2.5	+15.2 ptsall: 63.5%

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 up

Common GT86 problems at the MOT

Share of the 538 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics26.8%
Suspension25.1%
Tyres20.6%
Noise, emissions, leaks19.7%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

What to check when viewing a GT86

Based on the areas where Toyota GT86 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 26.8% of failed GT86 tests
- 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.
- Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.
Suspension
In 25.1% of failed GT86 tests
- Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.
Tyres
In 20.6% of failed GT86 tests
- 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.
Noise, emissions, leaks
In 19.7% of failed GT86 tests
- Ask to see the car start from cold. Heavy smoke from the exhaust is worth asking about.
- Listen for blowing or rattling from the exhaust with the engine running.
- Look under the car for drips of oil, coolant or other fluids.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a GT86's MOT history

Toyota GT86 questions

Which Toyota GT86 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: 2012–2013. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Toyota GT86 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 79.9% of initial MOT tests on Toyota GT86 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 64.8%. That is 15.1 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 GT86 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 26.8% of failed tests), suspension (in 25.1% of failed tests) and tyres (in 20.6% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 12-year-old Toyota GT86?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Toyota GT86 cars first used in 2013, about 12 years old, had a median of 72,300 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific GT86'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 free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Toyota GT86

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Toyota models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 26 Toyota models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Toyota GT86 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count