Toyota Celica Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Celica car check
Is the Toyota Celica reliable? We analysed 870,417 real MOT tests across 67,994 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Celica? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Celica 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 windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Celica.
Toyota Celica Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Celica. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Celica MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Celica to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Celica Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Celica fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Celica Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Celica owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Celica MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Celica year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 67 | 82.1% | 88,272 | 112,110 | 129,839 |
| 2017 | 61 | 77.0% | 77,723 | 109,918 | 170,608 |
| 2016 | 137 | 75.9% | 95,965 | 110,672 | 137,043 |
| 2015 | 122 | 82.0% | 64,120 | 77,785 | 124,929 |
| 2014 | 96 | 68.8% | 107,705 | 128,127 | 136,032 |
| 2013 | 72 | 80.6% | 67,288 | 117,897 | 150,236 |
| 2012 | 127 | 78.7% | 70,792 | 83,618 | 133,298 |
| 2011 | 179 | 72.1% | 75,425 | 97,639 | 124,326 |
| 2010 | 412 | 76.0% | 82,588 | 103,985 | 127,629 |
| 2009 | 788 | 73.5% | 92,214 | 119,103 | 141,586 |
| 2008 | 1,901 | 70.1% | 86,954 | 116,407 | 144,901 |
| 2007 | 4,450 | 69.6% | 86,756 | 111,746 | 141,678 |
| 2006 | 33,303 | 74.2% | 47,596 | 75,506 | 105,309 |
| 2005 | 58,178 | 73.8% | 51,755 | 79,656 | 110,712 |
| 2004 | 84,935 | 73.4% | 52,521 | 80,341 | 109,826 |
| 2003 | 103,378 | 73.3% | 54,678 | 82,604 | 112,044 |
| 2002 | 103,215 | 73.5% | 58,733 | 85,197 | 112,698 |
| 2001 | 105,950 | 73.0% | 65,602 | 90,977 | 118,016 |
| 2000 | 77,448 | 70.6% | 70,247 | 94,967 | 121,610 |
| 1999 | 42,663 | 70.1% | 77,390 | 102,690 | 131,994 |
How Long Does a Toyota Celica Last?
Based on 67,994 Toyota Celica vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Celica Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Celica 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 Celica
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.5% MOT pass rate from 113 tests
63.8% MOT pass rate from 12,876 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Celica is 1973, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.5% across 113 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Celica Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Celica THIS CAR | 71.3% | 870,417 | 95,660 mi | 36 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 |
| BMW 120 | 79.7% | 872,714 | 75,415 mi | 22 yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Celica trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Celica 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 CelicaShould you buy a used Toyota Celica?
The Toyota Celica has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.3% across 870,417 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Toyota Celica are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (43,337 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (23,341), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (23,042). 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 Celica owner drives around 5,488 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 Celica models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.