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Toyota Starlet reliability: MOT pass rate and common faults

1,038 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 1998 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Toyota Starlet cars first used in 1998 had an MOT pass rate within the margin of error of the average for their age.

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.

64.9%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 62.0% to 67.8%.

In 2025, 64.9% of the 1,038 initial MOT tests on Toyota Starlet cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 65.6%. That is about average: the difference from the same-age average is within the margin of error.

Check a specific Starlet

Its own MOT history, free.

Toyota Starlet 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.

YearChartTestsmedian milesPassed first timeAgainst all vehicles that year
1998age 271,03887,40064.9%±3.0−0.7 ptsall: 65.6%

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 Starlet problems at the MOT

Share of the 364 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%.

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

What to check when viewing a Starlet

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

  1. Lights and electrics

    In 34.9% of failed Starlet 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.

  2. Brakes

    In 34.6% of failed Starlet tests

    • On a clear road, brake firmly and check the car stops 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.

  3. Suspension

    In 31.0% of failed Starlet 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.

  4. Body, chassis, structure

    In 29.7% of failed Starlet tests

    • Look for rust or damage under the sills, around the wheel arches and on the floor where you can see it.
    • Open and close every door, the bonnet and the boot, and check each one latches properly.
    • Check the seats are secure and adjust properly.

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

Check a Starlet's MOT history

Toyota Starlet questions

Is the Toyota Starlet reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 64.9% of initial MOT tests on Toyota Starlet cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 65.6%. That is about 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 Starlet problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 34.9% of failed tests), brakes (in 34.6% of failed tests) and suspension (in 31.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 27-year-old Toyota Starlet?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Toyota Starlet cars first used in 1998, about 27 years old, had a median of 87,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Starlet'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 Starlet

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 show

Other Toyota models

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

All 26 Toyota modelsCars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

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