Toyota Aqua MOT pass rate & common failures
2,651 MOT tests on the Toyota Aqua (2011–2025) give it a 90.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (19.6% fail rate), the Aqua comes out 10.3pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests against 3.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 122 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 14.7% in the 120-150k band, a 6.5-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Aqua model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 781 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 569 | 89.6% | 10.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 377 | 90.5% | 9.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 252 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 283 | 95.8% | 4.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 110 | 93.6% | 6.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 107 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 60 | 98.3% | 1.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 34 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2023 | 37 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 244 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.9% | 103 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.4% | 64 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 61 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 9 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.3% | 7 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 122 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 72 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 69 |
| 4 | Wipers | 48 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 43 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 41 |
| 7 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 32 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 12.9% | 341 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 232 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 142 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 89 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 57 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.1% | 56 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 230 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,238 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 937 | 10.0% |
| 90-120k | 194 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,480 | 9.3% |
| Petrol | 156 | 9.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 188 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 454 | 5.5% |
| 2024 | 792 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 1,128 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Aqua
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (2.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Aqua?
90.7% of the 2,651 Toyota Aqua MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.3% fail rate, across model years 2011–2025.
What does the Toyota Aqua most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, then suspension (3.9%).
How much does mileage affect Aqua MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.7% for 120-150k, a 6.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,651 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.