2011 Toyota Aygo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 79,872 MOT tests, the 2011 Toyota Aygo recorded a 79.2% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (22.7% fail rate), the 2011 Aygo comes out 1.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 4,137 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.5% versus 12.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 10,694 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 6,720 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 5,034 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 3,956 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 3,076 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 2,431 |
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 | 4,137 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 3,792 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 3,493 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,769 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,417 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,917 |
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 | 31.9% | 25,441 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.1% | 21,623 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.2% | 20,941 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 7,777 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 6,194 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 6,075 |
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 | 6,085 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 27,272 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 30,428 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 12,611 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,765 | 28.3% |
| 150k+ | 705 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,720 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 15,879 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 16,100 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 16,230 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 15,943 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Aygo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 Aygos pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 79,872 2011 Toyota Aygo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Aygo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (8.4%).
Does the 2011 Aygo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,872 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.