Toyota Carina Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Carina car check
Is the Toyota Carina reliable? We analysed 357,148 real MOT tests across 60,472 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Carina? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Carina is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Carina.
Toyota Carina Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Carina. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Carina MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Carina to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Carina Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Carina fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Carina Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Carina owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Carina MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Carina year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 60 | 81.7% | 72,854 | 98,997 | 122,838 |
| 2001 | 86 | 74.4% | 72,040 | 112,336 | 160,108 |
| 2000 | 126 | 69.0% | 112,473 | 137,723 | 161,880 |
| 1999 | 173 | 63.6% | 108,894 | 146,456 | 182,942 |
| 1998 | 3,103 | 70.3% | 71,894 | 96,310 | 126,432 |
| 1997 | 63,131 | 70.2% | 79,118 | 101,856 | 128,696 |
| 1996 | 63,535 | 68.3% | 83,413 | 105,335 | 132,015 |
| 1995 | 54,010 | 66.4% | 86,814 | 108,288 | 132,848 |
| 1994 | 48,790 | 67.0% | 88,939 | 111,715 | 137,116 |
| 1993 | 32,108 | 66.4% | 93,549 | 116,641 | 142,030 |
| 1992 | 24,407 | 66.9% | 91,087 | 114,894 | 139,650 |
| 1991 | 28,287 | 68.5% | 84,938 | 109,480 | 136,178 |
| 1990 | 18,339 | 68.3% | 85,047 | 109,913 | 135,952 |
| 1989 | 9,520 | 67.6% | 85,647 | 110,255 | 136,218 |
| 1988 | 5,203 | 66.3% | 79,847 | 107,993 | 136,021 |
| 1987 | 2,347 | 69.5% | 65,859 | 87,012 | 113,513 |
| 1986 | 1,746 | 69.0% | 63,598 | 85,900 | 107,381 |
| 1985 | 894 | 68.1% | 60,788 | 79,677 | 112,093 |
| 1984 | 493 | 70.0% | 51,884 | 77,654 | 101,349 |
| 1982 | 119 | 75.6% | 49,824 | 74,485 | 99,067 |
How Long Does a Toyota Carina Last?
Based on 60,472 Toyota Carina vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Carina Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Carina MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Carina
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
81.7% MOT pass rate from 60 tests
63.6% MOT pass rate from 173 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Carina is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.7% across 60 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Carina Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Carina THIS CAR | 67.9% | 357,148 | 108,157 mi | 38 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 |
| Rover 111 | 62.8% | 148,670 | 50,896 mi | 31 yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Carina trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Carina 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 CarinaShould you buy a used Toyota Carina?
The Toyota Carina has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.9% across 357,148 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Toyota Carina are brake pipe excessively corroded (30,262 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (25,858), and position lamp(s) not working (14,340). 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 Carina owner drives around 4,852 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 Carina models stay on UK roads for around 38 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.