Toyota Corolla Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Toyota Corolla passes its MOT first time on 68.2% of tests, 4.9 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (63.2%). That puts it ahead of 70% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 Corolla does best (beats 93% of cars) and the 2003 worst (beats 63%).

Of its engines, the 1.8 Hybrid does best (beats 92%) and the 1.3 Petrol worst (beats 47%).

Better than average on suspension, emissions & leaks, body & structure.

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Toyota CorollaTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 52%

Beats 53%

Beats 40%

Beats 27%

Beats 37%

Beats 43%

Beats 37%

Beats 56%

Beats 63%

Beats 69%

Beats 64%

Beats 63%

Beats 65%

Beats 70%

Beats 71%

Beats 73%

Beats 74%

Beats 74%

Beats 93%

Beats 92%

Beats 90%

Beats 90%

Beats 96%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	1997–2009	250,832	61.3%	Beats 67%	B
1.8 Hybrid	2019–2023	193,114	89.0%	Beats 92%	A
1.4 Petrol	2000–2007	187,817	60.3%	Beats 66%	B
1.8 Petrol	2002–2009	94,149	61.6%	Beats 73%	B
2.2 Diesel	2005–2009	53,531	60.9%	Beats 71%	B
2.0 Hybrid	2019–2022	43,471	89.8%	Beats 91%	A
1.3 Petrol	1992–2000	37,679	59.0%	Beats 47%	C
2.0 Diesel	2002–2007	37,192	56.7%	Beats 65%	B
1.4 Diesel	2004–2006	11,342	60.2%	Beats 69%	B
1.2 Petrol	2019–2019	4,676	91.2%	Beats 94%	A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 16.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 17.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

16.8% vs 17.0%

Brakes

10.3% vs 10.7%

Visibility

6.9% vs 6.5%

Tyres

5.7% vs 6.9%

Suspension

5.5% vs 13.0%

Emissions & leaks

3.9% vs 5.4%

Body & structure

3.4% vs 6.3%

Seat belts & airbags

1.1% vs 2.2%

Steering

0.5% vs 3.0%

Wheels

0.3% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Headlight bulbs & units
Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
Windscreen wipers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Sidelights
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Brake pads
Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Toyota CorollaTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Headlight aim	5.1%	4.9%	1.1×
Headlight bulbs & units	4.3%	3.3%	1.3×
Windscreen wipers	4.2%	3.1%	1.3×
Sidelights	3.9%	4.1%	1.0×
Brake lights	3.6%	3.4%	1.1×
Tyre damage & cracking	3.0%	3.7%	0.8×
Brake pads	2.5%	1.9%	1.3×
Tyre tread depth	2.3%	2.9%	0.8×
Brake performance	2.3%	1.7%	1.4×
Number plate lights	2.1%	1.8%	1.1×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	51.4
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	41.5
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	33.0
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	31.6
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	23.5
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	23.3
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	21.9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	20.3

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Toyota Corolla1 engine90.1% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Hybrid	3,999	90.1%	Beats 96%	A

2022 Toyota Corolla2 engines90.0% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Hybrid	28,614	89.7%	Beats 90%	A
2.0 Hybrid	4,386	91.8%	Beats 92%	A

2021 Toyota Corolla2 engines89.6% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Hybrid	48,278	89.5%	Beats 90%	A
2.0 Hybrid	7,795	90.4%	Beats 92%	A

2020 Toyota Corolla2 engines89.3% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Hybrid	55,281	89.3%	Beats 93%	A
2.0 Hybrid	16,764	89.5%	Beats 89%	A

2019 Toyota Corolla3 engines88.4% passA

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Hybrid	56,942	88.0%	Beats 93%	A
2.0 Hybrid	14,526	89.2%	Beats 93%	A
1.2 Petrol	4,676	91.2%	Beats 94%	A

2009 Toyota Corolla3 engines64.7% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	4,984	63.3%	Beats 73%	B
1.8 Petrol	3,902	66.2%	Beats 77%	B
1.6 Petrol	2,809	65.0%	Beats 73%	B

2008 Toyota Corolla3 engines63.4% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	15,822	61.1%	Beats 69%	B
1.8 Petrol	15,249	65.5%	Beats 79%	B
1.6 Petrol	1,236	65.9%	Beats 77%	B

2007 Toyota Corolla5 engines63.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.2 Diesel	17,440	61.4%	Beats 73%	B
1.8 Petrol	14,243	63.8%	Beats 76%	B
1.6 Petrol	9,566	65.1%	Beats 73%	B
1.4 Petrol	5,239	62.7%	Beats 64%	B
2.0 Diesel	1,165	60.8%	Beats 68%	B

2006 Toyota Corolla6 engines62.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	58,750	64.1%	Beats 72%	B
1.4 Petrol	35,633	63.2%	Beats 70%	B
1.8 Petrol	15,011	61.7%	Beats 74%	B
2.2 Diesel	13,406	59.2%	Beats 70%	B
2.0 Diesel	8,080	59.6%	Beats 68%	B
1.4 Diesel	4,314	61.6%	Beats 71%	B

2005 Toyota Corolla6 engines61.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	55,855	62.3%	Beats 71%	B
1.4 Petrol	35,634	61.6%	Beats 69%	B
1.8 Petrol	18,442	60.2%	Beats 73%	B
2.0 Diesel	13,704	57.8%	Beats 68%	B
1.4 Diesel	5,538	59.8%	Beats 69%	B
2.2 Diesel	1,879	59.9%	Beats 74%	B

2004 Toyota Corolla5 engines58.5% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	39,455	59.2%	Beats 64%	B
1.4 Petrol	32,095	58.5%	Beats 64%	B
1.8 Petrol	12,604	58.8%	Beats 70%	B
2.0 Diesel	6,731	54.3%	Beats 61%	B
1.4 Diesel	1,490	57.5%	Beats 65%	B

2003 Toyota Corolla4 engines57.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	30,349	58.2%	Beats 64%	B
1.6 Petrol	29,911	58.2%	Beats 62%	B
1.8 Petrol	8,073	57.9%	Beats 65%	B
2.0 Diesel	4,946	52.5%	Beats 56%	C

2002 Toyota Corolla4 engines58.0% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	23,037	58.6%	Beats 63%	B
1.4 Petrol	20,791	57.8%	Beats 64%	B
1.8 Petrol	6,625	58.4%	Beats 67%	B
2.0 Diesel	2,566	53.9%	Beats 60%	C

2001 Toyota Corolla2 engines61.8% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	18,085	61.6%	Beats 70%	B
1.6 Petrol	9,703	62.1%	Beats 68%	B

2000 Toyota Corolla3 engines60.3% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.4 Petrol	9,991	60.1%	Beats 63%	B
1.6 Petrol	7,154	60.5%	Beats 63%	B
1.3 Petrol	1,756	60.0%	Beats 62%	B

1999 Toyota Corolla2 engines59.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	13,226	59.0%	Beats 55%	C
1.6 Petrol	4,907	59.9%	Beats 60%	C

1998 Toyota Corolla2 engines56.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	9,240	55.9%	Beats 37%	D
1.6 Petrol	5,513	56.5%	Beats 38%	D

1997 Toyota Corolla2 engines59.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	4,447	60.4%	Beats 46%	C
1.6 Petrol	2,936	57.7%	Beats 39%	D

1996 Toyota Corolla1 engine58.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	2,345	58.9%	Beats 37%	D

1995 Toyota Corolla1 engine58.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,810	58.2%	Beats 27%	D

1994 Toyota Corolla1 engine61.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,770	61.5%	Beats 40%	C

1993 Toyota Corolla1 engine64.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,802	64.3%	Beats 53%	C

1992 Toyota Corolla1 engine65.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.3 Petrol	1,283	65.5%	Beats 52%	C

FAQ

What is the Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate?

68.2% of MOT tests on the Toyota Corolla were passed first time, based on 913,803 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1992–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 63.2% of the time.

Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?

On MOT results it rates B (good): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 70% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Toyota Corolla year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 Corolla does best for its age and mileage: it beats 93% of cars on UK roads. The 2003 does worst: it beats 63%.

Which Toyota Corolla engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.8 Hybrid does best: it beats 92% of cars on UK roads. The 1.3 Petrol does worst: it beats 47%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Toyota Corolla?

The most common failure items are headlight aim, headlight bulbs & units, windscreen wipers.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Toyota Corolla reliability

Verdict

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ