Toyota Carina MOT pass rate & common failures
The Toyota Carina appears in 4,532 MOT tests spanning model years 1981–2020, and 75.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 23.8%, so the Carina sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (10.0%) and lighting & signalling (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and rigid brake pipes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 574 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.4% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 27.5-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Carina model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 45 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1988 | 86 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1989 | 116 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1990 | 220 | 78.2% | 21.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1991 | 429 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 294 | 78.9% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 393 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1994 | 603 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 515 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 774 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 875 | 74.5% | 25.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1998 | 75 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2019 | 41 | 95.1% | 4.9% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 455 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 445 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 392 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.5% | 383 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.7% | 351 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.0% | 315 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.8% | 170 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.8% | 80 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 574 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 276 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 204 |
| 4 | Wipers | 204 |
| 5 | Joints | 197 |
| 6 | Washers | 157 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 149 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 142 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.4% | 1,467 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 1,302 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 1,104 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.4% | 925 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 880 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.1% | 822 |
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 | 88 | 3.4% |
| 30-60k | 426 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,013 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,247 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 893 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 863 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,357 | 24.1% |
| Diesel | 175 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,347 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 1,048 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 882 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 680 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 575 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Carina
- Emissions & environmental (10.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Carina?
75.9% of the 4,532 Toyota Carina MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.1% fail rate, across model years 1981–2020.
What does the Toyota Carina most often fail its MOT on?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 10.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (9.8%).
How much does mileage affect Carina MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.9% for 150k+, a 27.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,532 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.