2007 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 141,634 MOT tests, the 2007 Toyota Yaris recorded a 75.5% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (27.8% fail rate), the 2007 Yaris comes out 3.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.2% of all tests — 9.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11,194 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.3% versus 14.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.4% of the time against 25.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 28,608 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 15,535 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 9,719 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.2% | 8,734 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 7,682 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 7,543 |
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 | 11,194 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 11,087 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 10,163 |
| 4 | Wipers | 6,518 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 6,414 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 6,286 |
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 | 34.0% | 48,216 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.4% | 44,398 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 38,274 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 25,578 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 22,549 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.8% | 22,337 |
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 | 3,616 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 23,799 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 45,757 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 39,912 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 19,387 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 9,131 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 120,601 | 24.4% |
| Diesel | 21,023 | 25.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31,118 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 30,104 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 28,837 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 26,915 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 24,660 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Yaris
On a 2007 Yaris, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 2007 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 141,634 2007 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2007 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 141,634 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.