2021 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Toyota Corolla passed 93.8% of its 44,918 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (8.2% fail rate), the 2021 Corolla comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.2%) and visibility (3.9%) 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 1,485 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.3% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 6.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 1,868 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 1,759 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 896 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 190 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 71 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.1% | 66 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,485 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 695 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 589 |
| 4 | Washers | 470 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 221 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 166 |
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 | 19.4% | 8,712 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 3,268 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.9% | 2,636 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,551 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 417 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 249 |
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 | 19,470 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 16,895 | 7.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,619 | 8.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,008 | 8.1% |
| 120-150k | 594 | 9.1% |
| 150k+ | 332 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 44,855 | 6.2% |
| Petrol | 56 | 10.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 307 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 746 | 2.8% |
| 2023 | 1,902 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 20,860 | 6.4% |
| 2025 | 21,103 | 6.4% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Corolla
On a 2021 Corolla, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (3.9% 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 (2.0% 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 2021 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
93.8% of the 44,918 2021 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Toyota Corolla?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2021 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 44,918 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.