1991 Toyota Carina — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Toyota Carina passed 77.9% of its 429 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (22.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.0%) and brakes (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 30-60k band and 28.7% in the 150k+ band, a 21.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.0% in 2021 to 18.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 35 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 34 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 32 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 22 |
| 2 | Wipers | 19 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 15 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 15 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 14 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 12 |
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 | 33.6% | 144 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.2% | 104 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.6% | 97 |
| 4 | Brakes | 21.9% | 94 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.8% | 89 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.1% | 56 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 40 | 7.5% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 17.0% |
| 90-120k | 109 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 80 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 100 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 80 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 65 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 61 | 18.0% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Carina
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.9% 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
How many 1991 Toyota Carinas pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 429 1991 Toyota Carina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Toyota Carina?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 1991 Carina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 30-60k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 429 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.