2012 Toyota Vitz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,470 MOT tests, the 2012 Toyota Vitz recorded an 87.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.4% fail rate), the 2012 Vitz comes out 10.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests against 4.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 94 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Vitz fails 10.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2022 against 15.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 154 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.8% | 71 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 48 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.0% | 30 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.9% | 28 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 11 |
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 | 94 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 61 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 26 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
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 | 14.2% | 209 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.7% | 142 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 98 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.1% | 90 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.9% | 43 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.2% | 32 |
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 | 298 | 10.4% |
| 30-60k | 813 | 12.4% |
| 60-90k | 328 | 13.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 63 | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 342 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 482 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 576 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Vitz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% 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.
- Visibility (3.3% 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 2012 Toyota Vitzs pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 1,470 2012 Toyota Vitz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Vitz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by suspension (4.8%).
Does the 2012 Vitz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,470 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.