Toyota Aqua
From 2,085 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Aquas fare better: 2019 models pass at 99.1% vs 78.9% for 2012.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 45 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 45 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 33 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 20 |
| front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements | 20 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 12 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 11 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 9 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 7 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 7 |
| front or rear fog lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 7 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 11.7% of Aqua failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £59.
Toyota Aqua on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 248 newly registered in the past year with 10 leaving, a net gain of 238. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 454 | 37 | +72 | -0 | +82 |
| 2025 Q2 | 371 | 38 | +59 | -2 | +57 |
| 2025 Q1 | 320 | 32 | +64 | -1 | +63 |
| 2024 Q4 | 259 | 30 | +53 | -7 | +46 |
| 2024 Q3 | 214 | 29 | +67 | -4 | +63 |
| 2024 Q2 | 161 | 19 | +45 | -0 | +49 |
| 2024 Q1 | 115 | 16 | +38 | -6 | +32 |
| 2023 Q4 | 90 | 9 | +28 | -0 | +30 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 99.1% | - |
| 2016 | 93.3% | an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction, esc mil indicates a system malfunction |
| 2015 | 94.8% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 91.2% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
2 earlier years
| 2013 | 90.7% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 2012 | 78.9% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
Typical mileage
Half of all Aquas tested had between 44,760 and 65,580 miles on the clock.
At 51,002 median miles, the Aqua has 0.025 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Toyota models
| Toyota Yaris | 76% |
| Toyota Aygo | 78.9% |
| Toyota Prius | 82.4% |
| Toyota Auris | 76.7% |
| Toyota Rav4 | 82.8% |
Common questions
What is the Toyota Aqua MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Aqua has a 87.1% MOT pass rate based on 2,085 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Aqua?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Aqua is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 45 failures. Other common issues include an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Toyota Aquas are on UK roads?
There are 454 Toyota Aquas currently licensed on UK roads, with 37 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Aqua at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Aqua is 51,002 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 44,760 and 65,580 miles.
Buying a used Aqua?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.