Toyota Carina
From 1,487 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 57 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 57 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 55 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 53 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 53 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 51 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 47 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 46 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 35 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 31 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 29 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 28.4% of Carina failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 20.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £158.
Toyota Carina on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 230 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 4 newly registered, a net loss of 226. At this rate, roughly 11 years until none remain. Now at 1.5% of its peak (170,173 in 1997 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 565 | 1,904 | +1 | -42 | -41 |
| 2025 Q2 | 599 | 1,911 | +1 | -14 | -13 |
| 2025 Q1 | 611 | 1,912 | +2 | -67 | -65 |
| 2024 Q4 | 643 | 1,945 | +0 | -107 | -107 |
| 2024 Q3 | 684 | 2,011 | +0 | -52 | -52 |
| 2024 Q2 | 715 | 2,032 | +0 | -31 | -31 |
| 2024 Q1 | 736 | 2,042 | +1 | -54 | -53 |
| 2023 Q4 | 785 | 2,046 | +0 | -39 | -39 |
3 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carina E Gli Auto | Petrol | 87 | 39% |
| Carina E Gli | Petrol | 73 | 33% |
| Carina E Gs | Petrol | 61 | 28% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 66.3% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1996 | 63.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 1995 | 81.3% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1994 | 73.2% | emissions levels exceed default limits, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
2 earlier years
| 1993 | 70.4% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 1991 | 76.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view |
Typical mileage
Half of all Carinas tested had between 67,162 and 133,586 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 98,045 median miles, the Carina has 0.029 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 Carina MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Carina has a 71.8% MOT pass rate based on 1,487 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Carina?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Carina is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 57 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Toyota Carinas are on UK roads?
There are 565 Toyota Carinas currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,904 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Carina at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Carina is 98,045 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 67,162 and 133,586 miles.
Buying a used Carina?
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.
With a 71.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £158 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 28.4% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.