2017 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,003 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Toyota Avensis, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.5% was above the average for large family cars of a similar age (86.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.7% in the 150k+ group versus 4.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 715 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 625 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 477 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 325 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 272 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 169 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 378 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 347 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 345 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 322 |
| 5 | Wipers | 216 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 163 |
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 | 20.4% | 2,854 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 2,303 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 981 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 642 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 553 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 316 |
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 | 2,152 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,822 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,038 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,651 | 12.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,038 | 15.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,301 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,529 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 4,444 | 8.2% |
| Gas/LPG | 30 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,801 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 2,828 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 2,824 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 2,815 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 2,735 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Avensis
Before buying a 2017 Toyota Avensis, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2017 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 14,003 2017 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2017 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,003 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.