Toyota Corolla Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Toyota Corolla fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 131,494 MOT tests across 31 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Hybrid, Petrol, Diesel
79%
Toyota Corolla pass rate
84%
Toyota average
82%
All-model average
The Toyota Corolla has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, which is 5 points below the Toyota average and 3 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Toyota Corollas pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
Check Your Toyota Corolla's MOT History
Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.
What the Toyota Corolla Fails Its MOT On
Of the 21,220 MOT tests on the Toyota Corolla that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
53%Cars and vans the same age: 47% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
32%Cars and vans the same age: 28% · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
22%Cars and vans the same age: 36% (the Corolla fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
20%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
Tyres
16%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £50-£300
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (13% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (12% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (12% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
Buying a Toyota Corolla? Check it first
See that car's own MOT history and mileage free, then check it for outstanding finance, an insurance write-off and a stolen record before you pay.
History check £4.99, one-off. No subscription.
Toyota Corolla Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Corolla year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
- 1998: 72% passed, against 76% for all 1998 cars (4 points lower, 3,048 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Toyota Corolla Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hybrid | 1.8L | 100% | 0% | - |
| 2022 | Hybrid | 1.8L | 94% | 6% | - |
| 2021 | Hybrid | 1.8L | 94% | 4% | 93% (+1) |
| 2020 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 95% | 5% | 92% (+3) |
| 2019 | Hybrid | 2.0L | 93% | 6% | 91% (+2) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.8L | 95% | 5% | - |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.8L | 93% | 5% | - |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.8L | 94% | 6% | - |
| 2015 | Hybrid | 1.5L | 89% | 11% | - |
| 2014 | Hybrid | 1.8L | 88% | 11% | - |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 80% | 19% | - |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 79% | 20% | 75% (+4) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.0L | 79% | 20% | 74% (+5) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 1.4L | 77% | 22% | 73% (+4) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 1.6L | 77% | 22% | 73% (+4) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.6L | 76% | 23% | 73% (+3) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1.6L | 73% | 26% | 72% (+1) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.6L | 72% | 27% | 72% (0) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.6L | 74% | 25% | 73% (+1) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.4L | 76% | 24% | 73% (+3) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.4L | 75% | 24% | 74% (+1) |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.3L | 73% | 26% | 75% (-2) |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.6L | 72% | 27% | 76% (-4) |
| 1997 | Petrol | 1.6L | 76% | 23% | 76% (0) |
| 1996 | Petrol | 1.6L | 80% | 19% | - |
| 1995 | Petrol | 1.3L | 67% | 31% | - |
| 1994 | Petrol | 1.3L | 76% | 23% | - |
| 1993 | Petrol | 1.6L | 78% | 21% | - |
| 1992 | Petrol | 1.6L | 81% | 17% | - |
| 1991 | Petrol | 1.6L | 84% | 16% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 1.3L | 81% | 19% | - |
Toyota Corolla Running Costs
Want to know the full annual running costs for the Toyota Corolla? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.
View Toyota Corolla Running CostsCar history check for £4.99
Finance, stolen and write-off checks
Outstanding finance with the lender's details, stolen, write-off and keeper changes. One payment, no subscription.
Comparing checks first? See the cheapest car check in the UK and the best car check providers compared.
Toyota Corolla FAQ
What are the most common Toyota Corolla problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Toyota Corolla that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (53% of the 21,220 failed tests), brakes (32%) and suspension (22%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (13%). Across 131,494 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 79% ended in a pass.
Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?
The Toyota Corolla has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, from 131,494 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Toyota Corolla years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 1998 (72% of 3,048 tests passed, against 76% for all 1998 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2008 (79% of 5,732 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars), the 2006 (77% of 21,442 tests passed, against 73% for all 2006 cars) and the 2007 (77% of 7,949 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Toyota Corolla faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Toyota Corolla typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Toyota Corolla
Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.
Compare the Toyota Corolla
Other Toyota Models
Common problems pages for other Toyota models