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Reliability
Are Toyotas reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Toyota vehicles.
75.0% MOT pass rate based on 1.6 million tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 30 Toyota models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
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- ✓Safety recall check
- ✓Vehicle valuation
Are Toyota cars reliable?
Toyota vs other premium brands
Toyota vehicles pass their MOT at 75.0%, well above the national average of 72.4% and the best of the mainstream brands here. Hyundai (73.9%) and Volkswagen (72.9%) also sit above national, while Ford (68.7%), Nissan (67.7%), and Vauxhall (65.7%) trail behind.
Toyota's range is anchored by the Yaris (363,000 tests) and Aygo (228,000 tests). Both are city cars that pass at 70% and 75% respectively. The C-HR and RAV4 SUVs perform much better at 85% and 80%, and the Prius hybrid sits at 79%.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Toyota MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Toyota pass rates sit above the national average at every age from 3 through 20. Newer Toyotas (3 to 5 years old) pass at 87 to 91%, compared with the national average of 86 to 89%. The lead widens through the middle years: at age 10, Toyotas pass at 77.9% vs 71.9% nationally, a six-point gap.
By age 16, Toyotas still lead: 63.4% vs 58.2% nationally. The gap narrows in the oldest bands but stays positive. Toyota's hybrid drivetrain durability and conservative engineering show clearly in the age curve.
What are the most common Toyota faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Toyota, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Toyota failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Toyota vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (7.75% of Toyota failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.30% of Toyota failures)
The rubber boot protecting a suspension ball joint has cracked or split, letting dirt into the joint. Common on older cars.
- Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.50% of Toyota failures)
More than one bulb or LED in a lamp cluster has failed, so the unit no longer meets minimum brightness. Often a headlight or brake light LED strip.
- Lens slightly defective (3.83% of Toyota failures)
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3.00% of Toyota failures)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
Toyota's failure profile leans heavily on lamps and electrical equipment (29.6% of failures vs 24.6% nationally), likely reflecting the many older Yaris and Aygo models in the fleet. Steering failures are much lower than national (2.4% vs 4.9%), consistent with Toyota's reputation for durable steering components. Brakes at 14.4% run slightly ahead of the national 13.0%.
Which Toyota models are most reliable?
Top 15 Toyota models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris | 363,021 | 69.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Aygo | 227,908 | 74.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Prius | 142,709 | 78.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Auris | 132,985 | 71.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Rav4 | 87,762 | 80.2% | Suspension |
| Toyota C-Hr | 82,697 | 85.5% | Visibility |
| Toyota Corolla | 59,584 | 68.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Hilux | 54,784 | 66.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Avensis | 49,560 | 65.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Verso | 24,249 | 69.6% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Rav-4 | 24,131 | 64.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Yaris Design Hev Cvt | 22,475 | 92.2% | Visibility |
| Toyota Estima | 16,612 | 76.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Toyota Corolla Icon Tech Hev Cvt | 16,600 | 89.2% | Visibility |
| Toyota Iq | 14,782 | 73.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The C-HR (85.5%), RAV4 (80.2%), and Prius (78.5%) lead the popular Toyota range. The Aygo city car sits at 74.7% and the Auris hatchback at 71.9%. The volume Yaris sits at 69.9%, slightly below the national average, while older models like the Avensis (65.4%) and Hilux pickup (66.5%) pull the low end. The GT86 sports car passes at a strong 83.5%.
How many miles do Toyota vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Toyota mileage tracks slightly below the national average in the first four years, then pulls above from age 5 onward. At age 10, Toyotas average 89,000 miles vs 80,000 nationally. From age 12 onward the gap reverses, with Toyotas averaging slightly less than the national mean. High-mileage Toyotas stay on the road longer than average, which flattens the older-age curve.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Toyota safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Toyota when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Toyota via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Toyota's full history?
Before you buy any used Toyota, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Toyota been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Toyota?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Toyota been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Toyota been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Toyota worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Toyota's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Toyota?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Toyota insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Toyota Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.