1992 Toyota Carina — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Toyota Carina passed 78.9% of its 294 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 23.1% of the time, so this is 2.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.9% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, joints and component mounting prescribed areas — wipers alone was recorded 15 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.5% versus 9.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.5% in 2021 to 16.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 38 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.8% | 26 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 23 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 17 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.8% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 15 |
| 2 | Joints | 14 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | 32.6% | 96 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.9% | 79 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.5% | 75 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.2% | 74 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.4% | 60 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.3% | 42 |
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 | 31 | 9.7% |
| 60-90k | 70 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 61 | 13.1% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 30.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 57 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 42 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 36 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Carina
On a 1992 Carina, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.8% 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 1992 Toyota Carinas pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 294 1992 Toyota Carina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Toyota Carina?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by suspension (8.8%).
Does the 1992 Carina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 30-60k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 294 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.