2018 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
6,674 MOT tests on the 2018 Toyota Avensis are in this dataset, and 88.9% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 12.2% of the time, so this is 1.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.5%) and tyres (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp alone was recorded 214 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.5% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 9.5% fail against 11.6% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 6,674 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 366 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.6% | 307 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.0% | 202 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 156 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 107 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 95 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 214 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 197 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 163 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 5 | Wipers | 102 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 78 |
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 | 21.2% | 1,414 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 1,023 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 395 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 351 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 297 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 258 |
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 | 871 | 5.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,185 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,503 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 818 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 550 | 15.1% |
| 150k+ | 747 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,273 | 11.6% |
| Petrol | 1,401 | 9.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,412 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 1,345 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 1,333 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 1,302 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 1,282 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Avensis
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (3.0% 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.
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 2018 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 6,674 2018 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.6%).
Does the 2018 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,674 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.