2002 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 69,720 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Toyota Yaris, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.9% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.9% in the 150k+ group versus 13.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 13,765 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.1% | 8,417 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.9% | 5,486 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.1% | 4,936 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 4,216 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 3,941 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 6,692 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 5,844 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,900 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,809 |
| 5 | Linkage pins and bushes | 3,725 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 3,702 |
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 | 46.4% | 32,328 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.0% | 18,834 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 22.5% | 15,698 |
| 4 | Brakes | 21.5% | 14,979 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 12,597 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.8% | 10,340 |
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 | 1,482 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 10,925 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 20,650 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 19,473 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 11,235 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 5,899 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 66,857 | 26.0% |
| Diesel | 2,858 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,965 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 16,139 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 13,670 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 11,570 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 9,376 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Yaris
Before buying a 2002 Toyota Yaris, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 19.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.1% 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.
- Brakes (7.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2002 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 69,720 2002 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.1%).
Does the 2002 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 69,720 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.