Verdict
The Toyota Starlet passes its MOT first time on 62.8% of tests, 1.3 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (61.5%). That puts it ahead of 57% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 1999 Starlet does best (beats 64% of cars) and the 1997 worst (beats 51%).
Better than average on brakes, seat belts & airbags, steering.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
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.
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 | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Petrol | 62.8% | Beats 57% | C |
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.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Shock absorbers 3.4× typical
Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers. - Wheel bearings 3.0× typical
Listen for a hum or drone that rises with speed. - Tyre tread depth 2.0× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Exhaust emissions (catalyst)
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems. - Brake lights
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.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhaust emissions (catalyst) | 5.6% | 4.6% | 1.2× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 5.4% | 2.3% | 2.3× |
| Shock absorbers | 4.5% | 1.3% | 3.4× |
| Brake lights | 4.3% | 3.4% | 1.3× |
| Headlight aim | 4.1% | 4.2% | 1.0× |
| Windscreen wipers | 3.9% | 3.6% | 1.1× |
| Tyre tread depth | 3.5% | 1.8% | 2.0× |
| Sidelights | 3.4% | 3.5% | 1.0× |
| Wheel bearings | 3.3% | 1.1% | 3.0× |
| Exhaust system | 3.2% | 2.8% | 1.2× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 55.1 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 42.6 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 41.1 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 38.8 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 37.1 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 35.1 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 33.6 |
| Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 32.8 |
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.
1999 Toyota Starlet1 engine64.0% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Petrol | 64.0% | Beats 64% | B |
1998 Toyota Starlet1 engine62.1% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Petrol | 62.1% | Beats 55% | C |
1997 Toyota Starlet1 engine62.3% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Petrol | 62.3% | Beats 51% | C |
1996 Toyota Starlet1 engine64.7% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Petrol | 64.7% | Beats 60% | C |
FAQ
What is the Toyota Starlet MOT pass rate?
62.8% of MOT tests on the Toyota Starlet were passed first time, based on 36,776 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1996–1999. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 61.5% of the time.
Is the Toyota Starlet reliable?
On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 57% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Toyota Starlet year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 1999 Starlet does best for its age and mileage: it beats 64% of cars on UK roads. The 1997 does worst: it beats 51%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Toyota Starlet?
The most common failure items are exhaust emissions (catalyst), drive shaft (CV) joints, shock absorbers. Compared with similar cars, shock absorbers comes up 3.4× as often.