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Toyota Avensis Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Avensis car check

Is the Toyota Avensis reliable? We analysed 3,497,866 real MOT tests across 274,257 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,497,866 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
75.0%
Typical Mileage
89,776mi
Annual Mileage
7,477mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Toyota Avensis is above 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 windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Avensis.

Toyota Avensis Number Plates

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

Toyota Avensis MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

86.3%
2018
87.5%
2017
86%
2016
84.4%
2015
82.6%
2014
82.2%
2013
81.5%
2012
80.4%
2011
79.1%
2010
78.7%
2009
75.2%
2008
74.5%
2007
75.1%
2006
74.7%
2005
74.6%
2004
74.5%
2003
74.3%
2002
73.1%
2001
71.8%
2000
71.1%
1999

Toyota Avensis Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 106,316
position lamp(s) not working 82,254
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 59,558
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 49,676
Brake pipe excessively corroded 43,472
Registration plate lamp not working 40,460
Stop lamp not working 35,219
Headlamp aim too low 31,315
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 26,588
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 25,078

Toyota Avensis Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,500 mi/yr
Typical
7,477 mi/yr
Average
9,870 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,928 mi/yr

Toyota Avensis MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2018 8,480 86.3% 37,450 60,987 100,001
2017 20,904 87.5% 33,774 55,533 90,379
2016 33,709 86.0% 38,232 61,345 95,752
2015 36,549 84.4% 44,783 71,540 111,813
2014 41,376 82.6% 50,052 80,011 124,244
2013 49,651 82.2% 50,582 81,373 126,134
2012 84,262 81.5% 52,578 82,470 123,868
2011 88,353 80.4% 52,665 83,218 122,896
2010 128,863 79.1% 54,688 85,382 124,972
2009 142,186 78.7% 54,080 86,421 126,660
2008 191,611 75.2% 56,138 88,180 127,956
2007 248,900 74.5% 60,507 93,056 131,618
2006 279,064 75.1% 57,860 89,184 126,352
2005 303,932 74.7% 58,265 89,304 125,204
2004 349,089 74.6% 57,512 86,468 119,644
2003 330,357 74.5% 53,164 80,970 112,100
2002 240,708 74.3% 56,925 82,415 112,286
2001 258,953 73.1% 64,010 88,805 117,786
2000 227,482 71.8% 72,677 98,518 129,550
1999 216,675 71.1% 79,568 105,572 137,264

How Long Does a Toyota Avensis Last?

Based on 274,257 Toyota Avensis vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.2 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Toyota Avensis Mileage Distribution

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

Median
89,776 mi
75th Percentile
124,482 mi
95th Percentile
190,375 mi
Max Recorded
2,169,701 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Avensis

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

Best year
2017

87.5% MOT pass rate from 20,904 tests

Year to avoid
1998

70.1% MOT pass rate from 208,492 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Avensis is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.5% across 20,904 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Avensis Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Avensis THIS CAR 75.0% 3,497,866 89,776 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 Aygo 80.7% 3,073,569 41,749 mi 21 yrs
Renault Megane Scenic 66.2% 1,818,845 80,976 mi 29 yrs

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

Found a Toyota Avensis you like?

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Should you buy a used Toyota Avensis?

The Toyota Avensis has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.0% across 3,497,866 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Toyota Avensis are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (106,316 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (82,254), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (59,558). 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 Avensis owner drives around 7,477 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 Avensis 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 Avensis — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Avensis reliable?
Based on 3,497,866 MOT tests, the Toyota Avensis has a 75.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Avensis?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Avensis do per year?
The typical Toyota Avensis does around 7,477 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Avensis last?
Most Toyota Avensis models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 274,257 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Avensis?
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 Avensis?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Avensis is 2017 with a 87.5% pass rate across 20,904 tests.