2001 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 54,923 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Toyota Yaris, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 73.0% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.9% in the 150k+ group versus 14.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 9,615 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 8,261 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.0% | 3,823 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 3,823 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.6% | 3,632 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 3,503 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 5,054 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,705 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 4,040 |
| 4 | Wipers | 3,040 |
| 5 | Linkage pins and bushes | 3,013 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,574 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 49.0% | 26,934 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.5% | 14,532 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 23.4% | 12,865 |
| 4 | Brakes | 19.4% | 10,652 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 10,365 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.7% | 9,191 |
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 | 857 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 8,015 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 16,499 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 15,812 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 9,117 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 4,565 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,055 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 12,648 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 10,694 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 9,083 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 7,443 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Yaris
Before buying a 2001 Toyota Yaris, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% 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.
- Visibility (7.0% 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 2001 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 54,923 2001 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2001 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 54,923 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.