2017 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 148,004 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Toyota Yaris, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 90.3% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (86.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.5% in the 150k+ group versus 5.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 6,619 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 5,777 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.5% | 5,102 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 4,880 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 2,629 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 319 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheel bearings | 4,225 |
| 2 | Wipers | 4,077 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,244 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 2,212 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,086 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,764 |
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 | 22.0% | 32,578 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 18,673 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 13,555 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 7,496 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 3,756 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 2,746 |
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 | 67,468 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 62,671 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 14,207 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,760 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 615 | 17.2% |
| 150k+ | 279 | 21.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 81,844 | 9.4% |
| Hybrid | 64,915 | 10.0% |
| Diesel | 1,239 | 10.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,697 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 29,344 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 29,730 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 29,865 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 30,368 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Yaris
Before buying a 2017 Toyota Yaris, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 4.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.9% 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.
- Tyres (3.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2017 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 148,004 2017 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2017 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 148,004 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.