2021 Toyota GR Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,141 MOT tests, the 2021 Toyota GR Yaris recorded a 94.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (8.7% fail rate), the 2021 GR Yaris comes out 2.8pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.5%) and emissions & environmental (1.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, registration plates and tread depth — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 81 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 3.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 216 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 73 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.9% | 53 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 42 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.5% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 81 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 51 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 45 |
| 4 | Wipers | 41 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 27 |
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 | 11.8% | 727 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 310 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.6% | 160 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 119 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 49 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 22 |
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 | 5,497 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 617 | 6.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 61 | 3.3% |
| 2024 | 2,974 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 3,105 | 6.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 GR Yaris
On a 2021 GR Yaris, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (0.9% 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.
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 GR Yariss pass their MOT?
94.2% of the 6,141 2021 Toyota GR Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Toyota GR Yaris?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.2%).
Does the 2021 GR Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 6.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,141 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.