2017 Toyota Vitz — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 288 MOT tests, the 2017 Toyota Vitz recorded a 91.7% pass rate. That is 5.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.0% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and wipers — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 11 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Vitz fails 7.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.3% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2023 against 7.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 23 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.8% | 8 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 7 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 6 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 1 |
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 | 11 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 3 | Wipers | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 6 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 4 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | 13.2% | 38 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 27 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.9% | 14 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 7 |
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 | 42 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 135 | 3.7% |
| 60-90k | 63 | 6.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 216 | 6.0% |
| Petrol | 72 | 15.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 81 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 103 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Vitz
On a 2017 Vitz, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.8% 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.
- Visibility (2.4% 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 2017 Toyota Vitzs pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 288 2017 Toyota Vitz MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota Vitz?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by tyres (2.8%).
Does the 2017 Vitz get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 6.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 288 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.