2012 Toyota Vellfire — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,261 MOT tests, the 2012 Toyota Vellfire recorded an 89.6% pass rate. That is 13.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and suspension (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Vellfire fails 10.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 15.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 85 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 60 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.1% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 10 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 29 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 26 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 19 |
| 6 | Wipers | 16 |
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 | 15.2% | 192 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.2% | 129 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 85 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 34 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.7% | 34 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.8% | 23 |
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 | 38 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 486 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 594 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 123 | 10.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,014 | 10.2% |
| Hybrid | 247 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 79 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 245 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 375 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 541 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Vellfire
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
- Tyres (2.1% 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.
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 2012 Toyota Vellfires pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 1,261 2012 Toyota Vellfire MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Vellfire?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2012 Vellfire get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 10.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,261 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.