2011 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
28,926 MOT tests on the 2011 Toyota Avensis are in this dataset, and 81.2% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (22.8% fail rate), the 2011 Avensis comes out 4.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 7.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 2,045 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.3% versus 10.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (20.0% vs 17.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 4,071 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 1,804 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 1,732 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.4% | 1,281 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,262 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 505 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,045 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,441 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 893 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 892 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 800 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 756 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 26.6% | 7,707 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 7,669 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 7,467 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 5,016 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.9% | 3,453 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 1,298 |
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 | 245 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,737 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,468 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 7,522 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 4,915 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 7,037 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,200 | 20.0% |
| Petrol | 13,698 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,312 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 6,211 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 5,862 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 5,427 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 5,114 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Avensis
On a 2011 Avensis, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
- Suspension (6.0% 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.
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 2011 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 28,926 2011 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (6.2%).
Does the 2011 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,926 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.