2007 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 32,508 MOT tests, the 2007 Toyota Corolla recorded a 79.5% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 6.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.3% of all tests — 9.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,750 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.1% versus 9.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (22.2% vs 19.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 5,948 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 2,892 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.4% | 2,077 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 1,612 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.9% | 1,590 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 1,198 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,750 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,901 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 1,822 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,524 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,386 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,170 |
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 | 35.2% | 11,449 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.1% | 10,764 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 9,105 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 6,841 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.4% | 4,993 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 3,774 |
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 | 238 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,509 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,410 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,716 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 7,604 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 6,020 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,874 | 19.5% |
| Diesel | 12,633 | 22.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,119 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 7,345 | 19.7% |
| 2023 | 6,649 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 5,741 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 4,654 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Corolla
On a 2007 Corolla, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.9% 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 2007 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 32,508 2007 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Toyota Corolla?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.9%).
Does the 2007 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 32,508 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.