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Toyota iQ reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 150,796 MOT tests of cars first registered 2009–2014.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
77.7%pass first time
+9.0 ptsvs typical car
Beats 90%of cars
150,796MOT tests

Verdict

The Toyota iQ passes its MOT first time on 77.7% of tests, 9.0 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (68.7%). That puts it ahead of 90% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2010 iQ does best (beats 91% of cars) and the 2012 worst (beats 88%).

Of its engines, the 1.3 Petrol does best (beats 93%) and the 1.0 Petrol worst (beats 89%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, tyres.

Watch these weak spots

Windscreen wipers1.6×as often as a typical car
Brake pipes2.2×as often as a typical car
Ball joint dust covers1.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

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

50%60%70%80%90%56789101112131415161788%84%80%78%76%73%71%
Toyota iQTypical 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.

2009
Beats 91%
2010
Beats 91%
2011
Beats 88%
2012
Beats 88%
2013
Beats 84%
2014
Beats 90%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol2009–2014130,40877.4%Beats 89%A
1.3 Petrol2009–201420,38879.2%Beats 93%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.

Exhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 3.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 8.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 12.8% 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.Tyres: 3.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 5.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 8.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 12.8% 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.Lights+4.1 ptsTyres: 3.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.3 ptsBrakes: 5.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.2 ptsSuspension: 3.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+6.7 ptsExhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.5 ptsSuspension: 3.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 5.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 3.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 8.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 12.8% 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.Exhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 8.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 12.8% 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.Lights+4.1 ptsTyres: 3.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.3 ptsBrakes: 5.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.2 ptsSuspension: 3.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 10.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+6.7 ptsExhaust: 1.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 2.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.5 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Brakes: 5.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

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

Lights & electrics
8.7% vs 12.8%
Visibility
6.2% vs 5.1%
Brakes
5.6% vs 6.8%
Suspension
3.9% vs 10.6%
Tyres
3.7% vs 6.0%
Emissions & leaks
1.4% vs 2.9%
Body & structure
1.3% vs 3.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.6% vs 0.8%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%
Steering
0.1% vs 1.7%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Windscreen wipers 1.6× typical
    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.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • 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.
  • Headlight bulbs & units
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k91%87%82%76%71%66%62%61%
Toyota iQTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Windscreen wipers3.7%2.4%1.6×
Sidelights2.4%3.1%0.8×
Windscreen washers2.3%2.3%1.0×
Headlight aim2.1%3.2%0.7×
Tyre damage & cracking1.9%3.6%0.5×
Brake pads1.9%1.7%1.1×
Headlight bulbs & units1.7%2.2%0.8×
Brake pipes1.7%0.8%2.2×
Tyre tread depth1.6%2.3%0.7×
Brake lights1.4%2.7%0.5×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen37.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen22.9
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning22.3
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements21.5
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc20.2
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm17.7
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.2
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded15.6
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.

2014 Toyota iQ2 engines85.9% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol6,32585.6%Beats 88%A
1.3 Petrol1,13487.8%Beats 96%A
2013 Toyota iQ2 engines82.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol9,81882.3%Beats 83%A
1.3 Petrol1,73083.1%Beats 87%A
2012 Toyota iQ2 engines80.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol17,81980.4%Beats 88%A
1.3 Petrol2,74980.4%Beats 87%A
2011 Toyota iQ2 engines78.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol18,94478.0%Beats 87%A
1.3 Petrol3,23578.8%Beats 90%A
2010 Toyota iQ2 engines76.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol27,27176.2%Beats 90%A
1.3 Petrol6,03478.4%Beats 95%A
2009 Toyota iQ2 engines75.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol50,23174.8%Beats 91%A
1.3 Petrol5,50676.9%Beats 95%A

FAQ

What is the Toyota iQ MOT pass rate?

77.7% of MOT tests on the Toyota iQ were passed first time, based on 150,796 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2009–2014. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 68.7% of the time.

Is the Toyota iQ reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 90% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Toyota iQ year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2010 iQ does best for its age and mileage: it beats 91% of cars on UK roads. The 2012 does worst: it beats 88%.

Which Toyota iQ engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.3 Petrol does best: it beats 93% of cars on UK roads. The 1.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 89%.

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

The most common failure items are windscreen wipers, sidelights, windscreen washers. Compared with similar cars, windscreen wipers comes up 1.6× as often.

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.