CarVerify

Toyota Vitz Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Vitz car check

Is the Toyota Vitz reliable? We analysed 9,901 real MOT tests across 2,540 vehicles to find out.

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

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 9,901 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.4%
Typical Mileage
57,223mi
Annual Mileage
4,121mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

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

Toyota Vitz Number Plates

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

Toyota Vitz MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

80.4%
2021
81.3%
2020
81.6%
2019
88.1%
2018
88.8%
2017
87.1%
2016
82.6%
2015
88.8%
2014
86.4%
2013
83.6%
2012
82.9%
2011
80%
2010
81.6%
2009
74.2%
2008
76.5%
2007
83%
2006
75.1%
2005
78.1%
2004
75.7%
2003
73%
2002

Toyota Vitz Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 71

Toyota Vitz Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 105

Toyota Vitz Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,049 mi/yr
Typical
4,121 mi/yr
Average
5,864 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,609 mi/yr

Toyota Vitz MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 112 80.4% 32,589 49,244 68,115
2020 150 81.3% 37,904 48,756 68,085
2019 261 81.6% 39,099 57,656 88,704
2018 471 88.1% 39,424 52,620 73,762
2017 357 88.8% 39,760 55,640 77,328
2016 139 87.1% 33,022 51,577 107,440
2015 242 82.6% 36,922 54,032 80,025
2014 581 88.8% 34,031 49,800 67,428
2013 1,254 86.4% 35,440 48,908 61,581
2012 1,709 83.6% 37,529 50,947 65,377
2011 1,363 82.9% 43,444 60,077 75,905
2010 514 80.0% 39,774 60,236 88,688
2009 555 81.6% 42,470 60,094 86,486
2008 458 74.2% 51,372 70,951 99,839
2007 234 76.5% 55,639 73,186 95,885
2006 94 83.0% 40,624 69,044 98,524
2005 205 75.1% 51,802 73,934 93,560
2004 178 78.1% 65,555 92,604 117,553
2003 243 75.7% 55,409 78,473 98,205
2002 74 73.0% 49,350 57,763 68,009

How Long Does a Toyota Vitz Last?

Based on 2,540 Toyota Vitz vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.6 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Toyota Vitz Mileage Distribution

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

Median
57,223 mi
75th Percentile
78,880 mi
95th Percentile
131,875 mi
Max Recorded
626,945 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Vitz

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

Best year
2014

88.8% MOT pass rate from 581 tests

Year to avoid
1999

71.6% MOT pass rate from 215 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Vitz is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.8% across 581 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Vitz Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Vitz THIS CAR 82.4% 9,901 57,223 mi 27 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
Ccm Unknown 92.8% 3,715 1,690 mi — yrs

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

Found a Toyota Vitz 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 Vitz

Should you buy a used Toyota Vitz?

The Toyota Vitz has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.4% across 9,901 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 71 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.

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 Vitz 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 Vitz owner drives around 4,121 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 Vitz models stay on UK roads for around 27 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 Vitz — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Vitz reliable?
Based on 9,901 MOT tests, the Toyota Vitz has a 82.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Vitz?
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
How many miles does a Toyota Vitz do per year?
The typical Toyota Vitz does around 4,121 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Vitz last?
Most Toyota Vitz models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 2,540 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Vitz?
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 Vitz?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Vitz is 2014 with a 88.8% pass rate across 581 tests.