2023 Toyota Corolla — MOT failures & pass rate
6,215 MOT tests on the 2023 Toyota Corolla are in this dataset, and 95.8% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 5.4% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.7%) and lighting & signalling (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, registration plate lamp(s) and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 97 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 2.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 9.8% once past 120-150k — 3.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.7% | 166 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 141 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 75 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 60 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 57 |
| 4 | Washers | 41 |
| 5 | Wipers | 35 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 19 |
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 | 12.6% | 780 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 187 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.7% | 169 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 139 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 80 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 28 |
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 | 2,829 | 2.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,032 | 4.7% |
| 60-90k | 953 | 5.9% |
| 90-120k | 324 | 7.1% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 889 | 0.3% |
| 2024 | 2,089 | 3.7% |
| 2025 | 3,237 | 5.5% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Corolla
On a 2023 Corolla, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.2% 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 2023 Toyota Corollas pass their MOT?
95.8% of the 6,215 2023 Toyota Corolla MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Toyota Corolla?
Tyres, recorded in 2.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2023 Corolla get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.8% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,215 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.