2002 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 28,724 MOT tests, the 2002 Toyota Corolla recorded a 75.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 3.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests against 12.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,215 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.7% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.2% fail against 26.2% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 28,724 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 5,622 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 3,512 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.4% | 1,843 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 1,703 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 1,351 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 1,272 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,215 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 3,134 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 1,533 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,475 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 1,208 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,046 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 39.3% | 11,285 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.8% | 8,571 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.5% | 7,907 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 26.7% | 7,675 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.7% | 5,362 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.9% | 4,268 |
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 | 320 | 14.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,900 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 7,836 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,255 | 24.9% |
| 120-150k | 5,545 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,844 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 27,524 | 24.2% |
| Diesel | 1,200 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,115 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 6,689 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 5,576 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 4,679 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 3,665 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Corolla
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Visibility (6.4% 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.
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 2002 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 28,724 2002 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Corolla?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by brakes (12.2%).
Does the 2002 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,724 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.