2010 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 608 MOT tests, the 2010 Toyota Corolla recorded an 82.1% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 6.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.3% of all tests — 11.0 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 63 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 30-60k band and 25.2% in the 150k+ band, a 13.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 105 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.3% | 38 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 32 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.8% | 29 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 12 |
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 | 63 |
| 2 | Wipers | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 24 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 18 |
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 | 29.1% | 177 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.0% | 152 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.7% | 144 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 99 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.2% | 80 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.9% | 36 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 70 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 150 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 200 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 103 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 375 | 16.3% |
| Diesel | 230 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 126 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 125 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 110 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 102 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Corolla
On a 2010 Corolla, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.3% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
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 2010 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 608 2010 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Toyota Corolla?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by visibility (6.3%).
Does the 2010 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 30-60k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 608 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.