2012 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Toyota Avensis passed 82.3% of its 30,931 recorded MOT tests. Against large family cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2012 Avensis comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests against 6.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 1,156 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.5% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 14.7% fail against 18.9% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 30,913 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 3,626 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 1,850 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.2% | 1,617 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,408 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,180 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 463 |
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 | 1,156 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,014 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 950 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 888 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 832 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 813 |
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 | 25.7% | 7,939 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 7,907 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.2% | 6,864 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 4,759 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 3,440 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 1,528 |
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 | 299 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 3,124 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,117 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,382 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 4,895 | 19.6% |
| 150k+ | 8,111 | 22.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,943 | 18.9% |
| Petrol | 8,970 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,700 | 15.5% |
| 2022 | 6,506 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 6,318 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 5,910 | 18.9% |
| 2025 | 5,497 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Avensis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 (5.2% 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 2012 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 30,931 2012 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.0%).
Does the 2012 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 30,931 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.