2007 Toyota Celica — MOT failures & pass rate
538 MOT tests on the 2007 Toyota Celica are in this dataset, and 76.0% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.4% fail rate), the 2007 Celica comes out 2.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and emissions & environmental (13.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 103 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 Celica fails 27.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 25.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.5 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.0% in 2021 to 15.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 75 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 72 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 49 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.2% | 44 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 32 |
| 6 | Suspension | 5.8% | 31 |
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 | 103 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 3 | Washers | 30 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 5 | Joints | 24 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 23 |
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 | 27.0% | 145 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.0% | 113 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 96 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.7% | 95 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 71 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.2% | 55 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 89 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 161 | 24.2% |
| 150k+ | 169 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 148 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 134 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 122 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 77 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 57 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Celica
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (13.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (9.1% 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.
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 2007 Toyota Celicas pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 538 2007 Toyota Celica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Toyota Celica?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (13.4%).
Does the 2007 Celica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.0% in the 60-90k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 538 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.