2012 Toyota Aqua — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Toyota Aqua passed 88.2% of its 781 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 23.3% of the time, so this is 11.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.6% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.3% once past 90-120k — 2.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 14.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 83 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 40 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 22 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 10 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 6 |
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 | 48 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 25 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 5 | Wipers | 16 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 16 |
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 | 13.2% | 103 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 98 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 62 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.6% | 20 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 13 |
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 | 35 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 282 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 377 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 721 | 11.9% |
| Petrol | 57 | 10.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 44 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 165 | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 261 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 299 | 14.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Aqua
On a 2012 Aqua, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Toyota Aquas pass their MOT?
88.2% of the 781 2012 Toyota Aqua MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Aqua?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 2012 Aqua get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 781 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.