CarVerify

Toyota Aqua Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Aqua car check

Is the Toyota Aqua reliable? We analysed 3,296 real MOT tests across 1,146 vehicles to find out.

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

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 3,296 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.2%
Typical Mileage
61,551mi
Annual Mileage
5,446mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
14yrs

The Toyota Aqua is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Aqua.

Toyota Aqua Number Plates

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

Toyota Aqua MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

94.1%
2019
90.7%
2018
91.7%
2017
90.7%
2016
88.5%
2015
87.2%
2014
85.7%
2013
83.4%
2012

Toyota Aqua Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Toyota Aqua models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 27

Toyota Aqua Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,871 mi/yr
Typical
5,446 mi/yr
Average
7,635 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,162 mi/yr

Toyota Aqua MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 68 94.1% 31,420 38,948 54,494
2018 118 90.7% 35,710 44,347 61,080
2017 120 91.7% 35,250 45,047 59,652
2016 334 90.7% 41,938 56,346 73,878
2015 330 88.5% 47,840 62,908 80,668
2014 508 87.2% 44,858 56,752 71,701
2013 697 85.7% 48,430 63,012 77,696
2012 926 83.4% 53,959 68,638 85,136

How Long Does a Toyota Aqua Last?

Based on 1,146 Toyota Aqua vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.5 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
14 years

Toyota Aqua Mileage Distribution

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

Median
61,551 mi
75th Percentile
78,599 mi
95th Percentile
122,761 mi
Max Recorded
253,140 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Aqua

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

Best year
2019

94.1% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

Year to avoid
2012

83.4% MOT pass rate from 926 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Aqua is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.1% across 68 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Aqua Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Aqua THIS CAR 86.2% 3,296 61,551 mi 14 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
Lexmoto Fmx 71.6% 2,102 9,314 mi 11 yrs

Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Aqua outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Toyota Aqua 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 Aqua

Should you buy a used Toyota Aqua?

The Toyota Aqua has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.2% across 3,296 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Toyota Aqua with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Toyota Aqua owner drives around 5,446 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 Aqua models stay on UK roads for around 14 years. 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 Aqua — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Aqua reliable?
Based on 3,296 MOT tests, the Toyota Aqua has a 86.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Aqua?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Toyota Aqua do per year?
The typical Toyota Aqua does around 5,446 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Aqua last?
Most Toyota Aqua models stay on UK roads for around 14 years based on our analysis of 1,146 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Aqua?
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 Aqua?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Aqua is 2019 with a 94.1% pass rate across 68 tests.