1997 Toyota Carina — MOT failures & pass rate
875 MOT tests on the 1997 Toyota Carina are in this dataset, and 74.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: emissions & environmental, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 9.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 139 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 30-60k band and 27.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.1-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.1% in 2021 to 23.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 84 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 80 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 80 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.8% | 77 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.1% | 71 |
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 | 139 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 57 |
| 3 | Washers | 41 |
| 4 | Wipers | 40 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 39 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 38 |
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 | 35.2% | 308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 262 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 229 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.1% | 211 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.4% | 196 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.2% | 142 |
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 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 220 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 245 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 171 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 175 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 839 | 25.6% |
| Diesel | 36 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 284 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 186 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 166 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 136 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 103 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Carina
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (14.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (9.6% 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 (9.1% 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 1997 Toyota Carinas pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 875 1997 Toyota Carina MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Toyota Carina?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (9.6%).
Does the 1997 Carina get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 875 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.