2010 Toyota Vitz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Toyota Vitz passed 84.1% of its 327 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, wipers and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 25 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 90-120k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 43 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.7% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 13 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.1% | 10 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 6 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Wipers | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 13 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 9 |
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 | 17.4% | 57 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 45 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.5% | 44 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 16 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 14 |
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 | 63 | 17.5% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 74 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37 | 13.5% |
| 2022 | 55 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 69 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 78 | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 88 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Vitz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.7% 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.
- Suspension (4.0% 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.
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 2010 Toyota Vitzs pass their MOT?
84.1% of the 327 2010 Toyota Vitz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Toyota Vitz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by visibility (6.7%).
Does the 2010 Vitz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 0-30k band to 26.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 327 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.