2014 Toyota Aqua — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Toyota Aqua passed 90.5% of its 377 recorded MOT tests. That is 11.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.1% of all tests — 6.6 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 18 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 Aqua fails 7.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.5% in 2023 to 6.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 38 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.5% | 13 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.6% | 10 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 8 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 7 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Switch | 4 |
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 | 10.6% | 40 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 23 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.5% | 13 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 13 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.9% | 7 |
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 | 41 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 194 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 111 | 8.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 41 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 85 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 216 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Aqua
On a 2014 Aqua, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.5% 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 (2.6% 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
How many 2014 Toyota Aquas pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 377 2014 Toyota Aqua MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Toyota Aqua?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by suspension (3.5%).
Does the 2014 Aqua get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 377 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.