2004 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Toyota Corolla passed 75.0% of its 55,733 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 3.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,440 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.8% fail against 27.6% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 55,726 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 9,931 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 7,393 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 4,209 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.1% | 3,977 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 2,832 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 2,724 |
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 | 5,440 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 4,969 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 3,057 |
| 4 | Wipers | 3,029 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,754 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 2,102 |
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 | 40.6% | 22,636 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.1% | 20,130 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.5% | 14,763 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 23.4% | 13,025 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.4% | 9,128 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 8,384 |
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 | 556 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 5,961 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 14,082 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 17,671 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 11,446 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 5,992 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 51,285 | 24.8% |
| Diesel | 4,441 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,742 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 12,755 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 11,115 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 9,490 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 7,631 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Corolla
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.3% 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.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
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 2004 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 55,733 2004 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Toyota Corolla?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (13.3%).
Does the 2004 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 55,733 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.