2018 Toyota Noah — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Toyota Noah passed 91.5% of its 306 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 12.4% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 6.2% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, registration plate lamp(s) and tread depth — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 11 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.6% versus 1.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 14.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 19 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.6% | 8 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.6% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 11 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 7 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 4 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 4 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.7% | 45 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.4% | 44 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 25 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 10 |
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 | 57 | 1.8% |
| 30-60k | 115 | 6.1% |
| 60-90k | 68 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 32 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 216 | 4.2% |
| Petrol | 90 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 54 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 82 | 8.5% |
| 2025 | 124 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Noah
On a 2018 Noah, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.6% 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 (2.6% 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 2018 Toyota Noahs pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 306 2018 Toyota Noah MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Noah?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by tyres (2.6%).
Does the 2018 Noah get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.8% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 306 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.