2018 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
151,662 MOT tests on the 2018 Toyota Yaris are in this dataset, and 92.2% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 11.2% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.4%) and lighting & signalling (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, wheel bearings and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 5,040 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.9% in the 0-30k band and 18.6% in the 150k+ band, a 13.7-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 7.7% of the time against 7.9% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.4% | 6,678 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 5,528 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.1% | 4,777 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 3,353 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.3% | 1,890 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 257 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 5,040 |
| 2 | Wheel bearings | 2,906 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,280 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,052 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,674 |
| 6 | Side repeaters | 1,511 |
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 | 21.5% | 32,580 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 13,816 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 8,311 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 7,049 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.4% | 3,620 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 2,058 |
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 | 88,173 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 52,342 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 9,147 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,540 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 315 | 15.6% |
| 150k+ | 140 | 18.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 86,786 | 7.9% |
| Petrol | 64,867 | 7.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,118 | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 29,919 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 30,306 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 30,259 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 31,060 | 10.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Yaris
On a 2018 Yaris, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.1% 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 2018 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
92.2% of the 151,662 2018 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Yaris?
Visibility, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.6%).
Does the 2018 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 151,662 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.