Toyota Starlet MOT pass rate & common failures
23,056 MOT tests on the Toyota Starlet (1981–2021) give it a 77.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.2% fail rate), the Starlet comes out 2.4pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.0%) and suspension (8.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 1,682 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 19.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Starlet model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 35 | 97.1% | 2.9% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1986 | 40 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 33 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 32 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 45 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1992 | 68 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1993 | 127 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 237 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 226 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 2,532 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 5,859 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 8,354 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 3,720 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 45 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 54 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 38 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 49 | 77.5% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 94 | 78.7% | 21.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2005 | 145 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 178 | 83.2% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 258 | 79.8% | 20.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 208 | 85.6% | 14.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 103 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 101 | 77.2% | 22.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 46 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 60 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Brakes |
| 2017 | 103 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Suspension |
| 2019 | 30 | 100.0% | 0.0% | Brakes |
| 2020 | 31 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 2,535 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.5% | 1,964 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 1,832 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.7% | 1,773 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 1,429 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 1,151 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,037 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 276 |
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 | 1,682 |
| 2 | Joints | 1,169 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,058 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,034 |
| 5 | Wipers | 910 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 811 |
| 7 | Wheel bearings | 795 |
| 8 | Service brake imbalance | 772 |
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 | 36.6% | 8,429 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 5,714 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.4% | 4,929 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.2% | 4,646 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 3,092 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.3% | 3,056 |
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 | 519 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,297 | 17.2% |
| 60-90k | 6,924 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 6,211 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,216 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,861 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 23,023 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 31 | 32.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,896 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 5,116 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 4,542 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 3,968 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 3,534 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Starlet
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Starlet?
77.2% of the 23,056 Toyota Starlet MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.8% fail rate, across model years 1981–2021.
What does the Toyota Starlet most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, then suspension (8.5%).
How much does mileage affect Starlet MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.1% for 150k+, a 19.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 23,056 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.