Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate: 76.8% (66,313 tests, 2025)

The Toyota Corolla passed 76.8% of its 66,313 MOT tests in 2025 — right on the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 19 years old with 94,500 miles on the clock.
76.8%Pass rate (2025)
66,313MOT tests analysed
94,500 miMedian mileage at test
19 yrsMedian age at test

How the Corolla compares

Toyota Corolla

76.8%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Toyota average (all models)

81.6%

What fails most on the Toyota Corolla

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Corolla:

#SystemDefects recordedShare
1Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment13,48228.6%
2Brakes11,68824.8%
3Suspension6,96514.8%
4Tyres4,2048.9%
5Body, chassis, structure3,4697.4%
6Visibility3,4607.3%

Pre-MOT checklist for Corolla owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

  • Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
  • Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
  • Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
  • Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
  • Look underneath for corrosion around sills and subframes, especially on older cars
Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Corolla pass rate by registration year

Strongest age-adjusted years: 2007, 2008. Full ranking and method: Toyota Corolla years to avoid.

Registration yearTestsPass rateVs same-ageMedian mileage
2001 6,018 71.1% +4.5 pts 92,730
2002 10,929 69.7% +4.0 pts 99,732
2003 16,348 66.7% +1.7 pts 100,401
2004 21,791 66.9% +2.6 pts 102,294
2005 33,632 70.7% +6.2 pts 103,276
2006 37,509 72.7% +8.3 pts 100,514
2007 13,644 73.7% +8.6 pts 114,024
2008 9,862 74.9% +9.7 pts 119,855
2009 3,817 74.9% +8.5 pts 111,750
2019 46,465 92.3% +3.9 pts 45,441
2020 4,628 93.3% +3.5 pts 45,396

Check a specific Corolla before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Toyota models

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Toyota Corolla?

In 2025, 76.8% of 66,313 first MOT tests on the Toyota Corolla were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Corolla fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (28.6% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 76.8% it performs below the national average at a median age of 19 years and 94,500 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.