2021 Toyota C-HR — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Toyota C-HR passed 93.8% of its 37,903 recorded MOT tests. Small SUVs of a similar age fail at 7.2%, so the 2021 C-HR sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.8%) and lighting & signalling (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, reversing lamps and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,445 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.5% versus 4.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.5% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.8% | 1,435 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 1,254 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.0% | 1,131 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.3% | 105 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 94 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 63 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,445 |
| 2 | Reversing lamps | 673 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 527 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 373 |
| 5 | Washers | 197 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 136 |
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 | 17.6% | 6,689 |
| 2 | Other defects | 5.7% | 2,172 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.6% | 1,739 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,009 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 255 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 246 |
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 | 22,085 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 13,742 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,742 | 9.2% |
| 90-120k | 280 | 12.5% |
| 120-150k | 38 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 44 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 785 | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 18,299 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 18,766 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 C-HR
On a 2021 C-HR, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.8% 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 (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
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 C-HRs pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 37,903 2021 Toyota C-HR MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Toyota C-HR?
Visibility, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.3%).
Does the 2021 C-HR get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 37,903 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.