CarVerify

Toyota Altezza Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Altezza car check

Is the Toyota Altezza reliable? We analysed 4,929 real MOT tests across 625 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Toyota Altezza? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 4,929 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.0%
Typical Mileage
106,427mi
Annual Mileage
5,780mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Toyota Altezza is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Altezza.

Toyota Altezza Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Toyota Altezza. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Toyota Altezza MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Toyota Altezza to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.8%
2012
69.7%
2011
72.9%
2010
72.2%
2009
72.7%
2008
72.4%
2007
70.3%
2006
73%
2005
72.5%
2004
74.7%
2003
76.8%
2002
78.2%
2001
76.1%
2000
74.7%
1999
74%
1998

Toyota Altezza Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Toyota Altezza fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 243
position lamp(s) not working 125
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 117
Registration plate lamp not working 100
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 100
fog lamp not working 86
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 78
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 77
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 76
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 74

Toyota Altezza Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Toyota Altezza owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,926 mi/yr
Typical
5,780 mi/yr
Average
7,077 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,416 mi/yr

Toyota Altezza MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Altezza year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 65 70.8% 68,350 120,592 160,478
2011 66 69.7% 101,128 120,405 139,733
2010 299 72.9% 78,740 108,318 145,687
2009 263 72.2% 89,056 128,164 161,188
2008 187 72.7% 69,361 90,139 121,052
2007 268 72.4% 67,747 88,484 132,393
2006 239 70.3% 68,432 90,728 127,284
2005 178 73.0% 62,453 88,748 122,914
2004 501 72.5% 75,863 105,203 135,645
2003 300 74.7% 55,998 77,556 111,246
2002 311 76.8% 71,242 100,696 125,374
2001 238 78.2% 55,513 86,596 145,595
2000 368 76.1% 79,948 108,271 155,517
1999 838 74.7% 77,103 111,160 139,134
1998 377 74.0% 66,921 93,422 126,016

How Long Does a Toyota Altezza Last?

Based on 625 Toyota Altezza vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.0 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Toyota Altezza Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Altezza MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
106,427 mi
75th Percentile
140,989 mi
95th Percentile
196,792 mi
Max Recorded
987,059 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Altezza

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2001

78.2% MOT pass rate from 238 tests

Year to avoid
2011

69.7% MOT pass rate from 66 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Altezza is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.2% across 238 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Altezza Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Altezza THIS CAR 74.0% 4,929 106,427 mi 28 yrs
Toyota Yaris 77.7% 9,038,234 54,896 mi 27 yrs
Toyota Corolla 75.4% 4,239,724 75,409 mi 36 yrs
Toyota Avensis 75% 3,497,866 89,776 mi 28 yrs
Kia Sorento 4 HEV AWD Auto 88.4% 3,375 29,951 mi — yrs

Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Altezza trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Toyota Altezza you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Toyota Altezza

Should you buy a used Toyota Altezza?

The Toyota Altezza has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.0% across 4,929 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Altezza are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (243 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (125), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (117). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Toyota Altezza owner drives around 5,780 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Toyota Altezza models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Toyota Altezza — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Altezza reliable?
Based on 4,929 MOT tests, the Toyota Altezza has a 74.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Altezza?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working, and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Altezza do per year?
The typical Toyota Altezza does around 5,780 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Altezza last?
Most Toyota Altezza models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 625 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Altezza?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Toyota Altezza?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Altezza is 2001 with a 78.2% pass rate across 238 tests.