2011 Toyota Verso — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Toyota Verso passed 81.5% of its 24,069 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.0% of all tests — 10.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and horn — position lamp alone was recorded 2,086 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.5pp more often than petrol ones (21.4% vs 16.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 3,858 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.7% | 1,371 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 1,251 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.7% | 1,123 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.5% | 1,078 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 338 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,086 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 993 |
| 3 | Horn | 788 |
| 4 | Wipers | 770 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 752 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 626 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 28.7% | 6,904 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.4% | 6,601 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.0% | 5,540 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 3,477 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.6% | 3,034 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 1,510 |
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 | 689 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,269 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,650 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 6,143 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,940 | 22.1% |
| 150k+ | 2,373 | 23.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,598 | 16.9% |
| Diesel | 8,471 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,982 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 4,960 | 17.5% |
| 2023 | 4,896 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 4,733 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 4,498 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Verso
On a 2011 Verso, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.7% 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.
- Brakes (5.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2011 Toyota Versos pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 24,069 2011 Toyota Verso MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Verso?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by suspension (5.7%).
Does the 2011 Verso get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,069 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.