2011 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Toyota Yaris passed 82.5% of its 97,453 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.5 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 24.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests against 8.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 5,277 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.0% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.3% fail against 19.8% for diesel, a 2.5-point gap across 97,444 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 11,032 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 7,833 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.1% | 5,007 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 4,177 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 3,792 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 1,698 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 5,277 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 4,488 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,596 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,840 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,688 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,421 |
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 | 25.0% | 24,369 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 23,785 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.0% | 20,452 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.5% | 11,164 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 5,582 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 4,141 |
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 | 6,995 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 32,037 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 35,058 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 16,646 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 5,132 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,576 | 23.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 91,128 | 17.3% |
| Diesel | 6,316 | 19.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,376 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 19,412 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 19,671 | 17.3% |
| 2024 | 19,479 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 19,515 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Yaris
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 (5.1% 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 2011 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 97,453 2011 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by suspension (8.0%).
Does the 2011 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 97,453 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.