Toyota Corolla Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Corolla car check
Is the Toyota Corolla reliable? We analysed 4,239,724 real MOT tests across 329,089 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Corolla? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Corolla is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Corolla.
Toyota Corolla Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Corolla. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Corolla MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Corolla to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Corolla Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Corolla fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Corolla Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Corolla owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Corolla MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Corolla year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 176 | 93.2% | 12,080 | 31,352 | 61,534 |
| 2022 | 1,530 | 92.6% | 20,600 | 39,006 | 67,110 |
| 2021 | 2,189 | 91.5% | 21,480 | 40,158 | 68,122 |
| 2020 | 6,894 | 91.1% | 25,068 | 45,313 | 78,080 |
| 2019 | 80,042 | 89.8% | 24,264 | 40,538 | 69,868 |
| 2018 | 155 | 83.2% | 35,482 | 63,128 | 115,134 |
| 2017 | 194 | 86.6% | 32,939 | 56,436 | 92,776 |
| 2016 | 245 | 83.3% | 51,173 | 92,858 | 144,857 |
| 2015 | 321 | 79.4% | 61,324 | 97,858 | 149,240 |
| 2014 | 527 | 82.0% | 36,460 | 64,143 | 100,338 |
| 2013 | 162 | 80.2% | 46,748 | 81,238 | 145,315 |
| 2012 | 178 | 77.0% | 56,936 | 87,610 | 130,356 |
| 2011 | 299 | 77.3% | 46,604 | 74,757 | 113,384 |
| 2010 | 1,906 | 76.4% | 44,568 | 72,566 | 108,163 |
| 2009 | 32,741 | 76.4% | 48,058 | 76,739 | 109,357 |
| 2008 | 99,596 | 76.3% | 52,152 | 82,149 | 115,344 |
| 2007 | 161,302 | 76.8% | 49,036 | 78,234 | 111,389 |
| 2006 | 466,057 | 77.6% | 42,633 | 69,114 | 100,267 |
| 2005 | 535,316 | 77.1% | 43,826 | 70,401 | 101,496 |
| 2004 | 453,230 | 76.5% | 44,351 | 70,639 | 100,308 |
How Long Does a Toyota Corolla Last?
Based on 329,089 Toyota Corolla vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Corolla Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Corolla 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 Corolla
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.2% MOT pass rate from 176 tests
63.2% MOT pass rate from 144 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Corolla is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.2% across 176 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Corolla Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla THIS CAR | 75.4% | 4,239,724 | 75,409 mi | 36 yrs |
| Toyota Yaris | 77.7% | 9,038,234 | 54,896 mi | 27 yrs |
| Toyota Avensis | 75% | 3,497,866 | 89,776 mi | 28 yrs |
| Toyota Aygo | 80.7% | 3,073,569 | 41,749 mi | 21 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Avensis (75.0% pass rate), the Toyota Corolla sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Corolla 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 CorollaShould you buy a used Toyota Corolla?
The Toyota Corolla has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.4% across 4,239,724 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 Corolla are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (151,978 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (93,312), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (58,778). 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 Corolla owner drives around 5,528 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 Corolla 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.