CarVerify

Toyota Yaris Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Yaris car check

Is the Toyota Yaris reliable? We analysed 9,038,234 real MOT tests across 631,037 vehicles to find out.

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

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 9,038,234 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.7%
Typical Mileage
54,896mi
Annual Mileage
4,759mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Toyota Yaris 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 position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Yaris.

Toyota Yaris Number Plates

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

Toyota Yaris MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.9%
2023
92.7%
2022
91.9%
2021
89.5%
2020
89.2%
2019
87.9%
2018
87.3%
2017
86.8%
2016
85.7%
2015
83%
2014
81.6%
2013
80.6%
2012
81.1%
2011
79.5%
2010
79.6%
2009
76%
2008
75.7%
2007
75.3%
2006
74.9%
2005
74.2%
2004

Toyota Yaris Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 149,812
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 133,602
position lamp(s) not working 65,683
Stop lamp not working 58,922
Brake pipe excessively corroded 52,660
Registration plate lamp not working 49,998

Toyota Yaris Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 80,096

Toyota Yaris Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,665 mi/yr
Typical
4,759 mi/yr
Average
5,869 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,690 mi/yr

Toyota Yaris MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 72 88.9% 10,292 47,630 74,204
2022 179 92.7% 10,992 20,213 30,852
2021 802 91.9% 15,444 25,870 44,201
2020 56,488 89.5% 13,320 21,296 32,523
2019 138,809 89.2% 14,708 23,446 35,580
2018 171,074 87.9% 16,950 27,016 40,662
2017 201,380 87.3% 18,921 29,805 44,787
2016 241,358 86.8% 21,192 33,304 50,176
2015 301,140 85.7% 24,009 37,561 55,880
2014 327,791 83.0% 26,177 40,989 60,981
2013 368,006 81.6% 28,307 44,486 65,758
2012 391,787 80.6% 29,709 47,185 69,718
2011 252,965 81.1% 30,420 49,086 72,513
2010 332,020 79.5% 32,629 53,301 78,457
2009 478,710 79.6% 31,844 53,480 80,303
2008 522,351 76.0% 36,468 59,713 87,431
2007 555,917 75.7% 36,531 60,181 88,349
2006 542,413 75.3% 36,735 60,952 89,039
2005 663,725 74.9% 35,563 58,846 86,976
2004 695,409 74.2% 36,787 60,531 88,650

How Long Does a Toyota Yaris Last?

Based on 631,037 Toyota Yaris vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.2 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Toyota Yaris Mileage Distribution

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

Median
54,896 mi
75th Percentile
83,088 mi
95th Percentile
129,150 mi
Max Recorded
1,285,056 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Yaris

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

Best year
2022

92.7% MOT pass rate from 179 tests

Year to avoid
1999

72.3% MOT pass rate from 247,039 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Yaris is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.7% across 179 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Yaris Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Yaris THIS CAR 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
Toyota Aygo 80.7% 3,073,569 41,749 mi 21 yrs
Renault Laguna 64.6% 2,783,232 89,257 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate) and the Toyota Avensis (75.0% pass rate), the Toyota Yaris outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Toyota Yaris 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 Yaris

Should you buy a used Toyota Yaris?

The Toyota Yaris has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.7% across 9,038,234 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 Yaris are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (149,812 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (133,602), and position lamp(s) not working (65,683). 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.

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 Yaris 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 Yaris owner drives around 4,759 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 Yaris 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 Yaris — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Yaris reliable?
Based on 9,038,234 MOT tests, the Toyota Yaris has a 77.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Yaris?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Yaris do per year?
The typical Toyota Yaris does around 4,759 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Yaris last?
Most Toyota Yaris models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 631,037 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Yaris?
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 Yaris?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Yaris is 2022 with a 92.7% pass rate across 179 tests.