2019 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
72,084 MOT tests on the 2019 Toyota Corolla are in this dataset, and 93.3% of them passed. That is 2.8 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.6%) and visibility (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, tread depth and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 2,241 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 Corolla fails 4.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 5.5% of the time against 6.8% for hybrid.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 7.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 3,318 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,533 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 1,932 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 530 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 308 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 142 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,241 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,213 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,070 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 765 |
| 5 | Washers | 703 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 430 |
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 | 19.2% | 13,862 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.3% | 7,394 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.4% | 3,921 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 2,351 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 1,489 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 1,215 |
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 | 25,457 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 24,699 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 10,429 | 8.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,996 | 7.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,894 | 7.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,607 | 8.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 67,951 | 6.8% |
| Petrol | 4,114 | 5.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,776 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | 17,063 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 17,435 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 17,191 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 17,619 | 7.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Corolla
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.6% 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 (3.5% 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 (2.7% 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 2019 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 72,084 2019 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Toyota Corolla?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by visibility (3.5%).
Does the 2019 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 8.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,084 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.