2014 Toyota Vitz — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Toyota Vitz passed 93.5% of its 428 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (20.9% fail rate), the 2014 Vitz comes out 14.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests against 2.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 Vitz fails 6.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 7.3% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 31 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.8% | 12 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 8 |
| 4 | Tyres | 0.7% | 3 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 2 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 2 |
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 | 19 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 12 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 4 |
| 5 | Switch | 4 |
| 6 | Washers | 4 |
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 | 7.5% | 32 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 7 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.4% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.2% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 4 |
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 | 99 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 237 | 6.3% |
| 60-90k | 82 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 115 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 262 | 5.3% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Vitz
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.8% 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 (1.9% 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 2014 Toyota Vitzs pass their MOT?
93.5% of the 428 2014 Toyota Vitz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Toyota Vitz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by suspension (2.8%).
Does the 2014 Vitz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 428 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.