2021 Toyota Corolla Excel Hev Cvt — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,441 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Toyota Corolla Excel Hev Cvt, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 94.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.3% in the 120-150k group versus 4.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 263 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.3% | 180 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 78 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 23 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.1% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 159 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 84 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 71 |
| 4 | Washers | 45 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 38 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.7% | 1,180 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 341 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 270 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 160 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.7% | 38 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.5% | 27 |
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 | 2,731 | 4.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,961 | 6.6% |
| 60-90k | 495 | 9.7% |
| 90-120k | 194 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 16.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| HYBRID ELECTRIC (CLEAN) | 5,076 | 6.1% |
| Hybrid | 365 | 5.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 76 | 5.3% |
| 2023 | 281 | 5.7% |
| 2024 | 2,511 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 2,565 | 6.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Corolla Excel Hev Cvt
Before buying a 2021 Toyota Corolla Excel Hev Cvt, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Toyota Corolla Excel Hev Cvts pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 5,441 2021 Toyota Corolla Excel Hev Cvt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Toyota Corolla Excel Hev Cvt?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.3%).
Does the 2021 Corolla Excel Hev Cvt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,441 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.