2002 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Toyota Avensis passed 73.5% of its 7,715 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2002 Avensis comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 673 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.8% in the 0-30k band and 32.6% in the 150k+ band, a 19.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 23.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,223 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 820 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.4% | 799 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.3% | 721 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 528 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 425 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 673 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 612 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 509 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 474 |
| 5 | Wipers | 335 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 328 |
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 | 29.5% | 2,276 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.2% | 1,945 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.4% | 1,807 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.7% | 1,677 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.6% | 1,278 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 1,212 |
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 | 39 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 653 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,799 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,229 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,759 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,234 | 32.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,261 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 454 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,373 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 1,891 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 1,479 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 1,148 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 824 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Avensis
On a 2002 Avensis, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.6% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2002 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 7,715 2002 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.6%).
Does the 2002 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,715 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.