2021 Toyota Aygo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 36,261 MOT tests, the 2021 Toyota Aygo recorded a 94.0% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail at 6.6%, so the 2021 Aygo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.0%) and visibility (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 551 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.8% once past 90-120k — 5.7× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 6.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.0% | 1,087 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 850 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 829 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 619 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 283 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 551 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 432 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 364 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 343 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 336 |
| 6 | Washers | 267 |
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 | 17.8% | 6,470 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 4,301 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 2,140 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.9% | 1,410 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 814 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.8% | 651 |
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 | 30,050 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,757 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 398 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 37 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 725 | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 17,483 | 5.4% |
| 2025 | 18,010 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Aygo
On a 2021 Aygo, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Toyota Aygos pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 36,261 2021 Toyota Aygo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Toyota Aygo?
Tyres, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.3%).
Does the 2021 Aygo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,261 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.