2001 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,686 MOT tests, the 2001 Toyota Avensis recorded a 74.5% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 658 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.7% versus 16.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.8% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 868 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.0% | 570 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 554 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 528 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 379 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 305 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 658 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 525 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 385 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 277 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 222 |
| 6 | Wipers | 214 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.7% | 1,805 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.3% | 1,495 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.6% | 1,231 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.6% | 1,172 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.5% | 940 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 928 |
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 | 37 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 546 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,339 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,729 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,197 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 835 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,322 | 25.3% |
| Diesel | 364 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,864 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 1,365 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 1,049 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 802 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 606 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Avensis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
- Brakes (9.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2001 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 5,686 2001 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.0%).
Does the 2001 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,686 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.