2010 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 117,485 MOT tests, the 2010 Toyota Yaris recorded a 79.1% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 2010 Yaris comes out 4.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and suspension (10.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and wipers — coil spring alone was recorded 7,263 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.8% versus 12.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (23.7% vs 20.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 13,087 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 12,821 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 6,496 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 6,434 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 4,787 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 4,480 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 7,263 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 5,470 |
| 3 | Wipers | 4,979 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 4,025 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,992 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3,578 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 27.1% | 31,777 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.8% | 30,301 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.0% | 28,151 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.2% | 16,698 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 9,449 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 5,568 |
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 | 6,144 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 31,382 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 42,827 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 24,892 | 24.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,751 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,471 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 106,216 | 20.6% |
| Diesel | 11,251 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,060 | 20.1% |
| 2022 | 23,699 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 23,672 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 23,216 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 22,838 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Yaris
On a 2010 Yaris, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (5.5% 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 2010 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 117,485 2010 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2010 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 117,485 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.