2017 Toyota C-HR — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,639 MOT tests, the 2017 Toyota C-HR recorded a 90.7% pass rate. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 11.9% of the time, so this is 2.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 4,867 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.4% in the 0-30k band and 13.9% in the 150k+ band, a 8.5-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 9.0% of the time against 9.9% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.8% | 4,476 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 3,172 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,999 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 1,718 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 695 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 164 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 4,867 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,667 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,582 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,564 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 805 |
| 6 | Washers | 778 |
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 | 23.8% | 18,200 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 10,259 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 4,955 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 2,891 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 2,862 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 1,419 |
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 | 18,396 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 38,285 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 15,075 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 3,514 | 12.5% |
| 120-150k | 927 | 13.8% |
| 150k+ | 438 | 13.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 55,458 | 9.0% |
| Petrol | 21,175 | 9.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,781 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 15,258 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 15,433 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 15,544 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 15,623 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2017 C-HR
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (5.8% 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 (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
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 C-HRs pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 76,639 2017 Toyota C-HR MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota C-HR?
Visibility, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.1%).
Does the 2017 C-HR get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,639 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.