2020 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
61,965 MOT tests on the 2020 Toyota Corolla are in this dataset, and 93.5% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 8.9% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and visibility (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,908 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 9.9% versus 4.7%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 6.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 2,658 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 2,297 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,269 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.6% | 385 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 153 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 138 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,908 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 945 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 910 |
| 4 | Washers | 697 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 315 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 311 |
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 | 19.5% | 12,079 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.9% | 6,115 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 3,397 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,146 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 805 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 654 |
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 | 25,306 | 4.7% |
| 30-60k | 22,744 | 7.4% |
| 60-90k | 8,240 | 8.3% |
| 90-120k | 3,234 | 7.7% |
| 120-150k | 1,436 | 8.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,003 | 9.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 61,475 | 6.5% |
| Petrol | 487 | 5.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 556 | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 1,624 | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 19,925 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 19,643 | 6.5% |
| 2025 | 20,217 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Corolla
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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 (2.1% 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 2020 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 61,965 2020 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Toyota Corolla?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 2020 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.7% in the 0-30k band to 9.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 61,965 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.