2012 Toyota Yaris MOT pass rate: 78.3% (81,403 tests)
Is the 2012 Yaris getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78.8% +6.5 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 79.7% +8.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 76.3% +6.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Yaris
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11,080 | 28.3% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9,947 | 25.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 7,005 | 17.9% |
| 4 | Tyres | 4,927 | 12.6% |
| 5 | Visibility | 3,327 | 8.5% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,184 | 3.0% |
All Yaris years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 21,019 | 65.4% | -1.2 pts | 92,997 |
| 2002 | 26,807 | 67.0% | +1.3 pts | 91,884 |
| 2003 | 34,295 | 65.1% | +0.0 pts | 91,650 |
| 2004 | 40,212 | 64.3% | -0.0 pts | 90,475 |
| 2005 | 49,062 | 66.0% | +1.5 pts | 88,710 |
| 2006 | 50,941 | 67.1% | +2.6 pts | 93,305 |
| 2007 | 62,042 | 68.1% | +3.0 pts | 91,646 |
| 2008 | 66,482 | 68.4% | +3.3 pts | 90,150 |
| 2009 | 72,883 | 73.8% | +7.5 pts | 80,247 |
| 2010 | 55,277 | 73.2% | +5.8 pts | 77,749 |
| 2011 | 47,928 | 77.8% | +8.7 pts | 70,883 |
| 2012 (this page) | 81,403 | 78.3% | +7.1 pts | 67,552 |
| 2013 | 85,728 | 78.9% | +5.6 pts | 62,423 |
| 2014 | 85,982 | 81.1% | +5.3 pts | 56,308 |
| 2015 | 91,148 | 86.6% | +7.9 pts | 50,738 |
| 2016 | 84,331 | 88.1% | +6.8 pts | 43,580 |
| 2017 | 79,616 | 87.6% | +3.6 pts | 37,174 |
| 2018 | 82,627 | 89.8% | +3.4 pts | 31,977 |
| 2019 | 82,744 | 92.2% | +3.8 pts | 25,437 |
| 2020 | 44,299 | 93.6% | +3.7 pts | 20,190 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Toyota Yaris years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Toyota Yaris reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 78.3% of their MOT tests (81,403 tests, 2023–2025), +7.1 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 67,552 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Yaris?
The median tested example shows 67,552 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 Yaris?
In this cohort petrols pass 78.5% of tests against 74.1% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.