Toyota Carina E
From 363 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and emissions levels exceed default limits. The top issue, 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, caused 30 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.
| 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 | 30 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 26 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 24 |
| 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. | 20 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 16 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 16 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 13 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 13 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 12 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 11 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 25.4% of Carina E failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 38.1% 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 £179.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 68.5% | 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Carina Es tested had between 91,933 and 152,919 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 119,924 median miles, the Carina E has 0.027 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 E MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Carina E has a 68% MOT pass rate based on 363 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Carina E?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Carina E is 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, which caused 30 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Carina E at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Carina E is 119,924 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 91,933 and 152,919 miles.
Buying a used Carina E?
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 68% pass rate and an average repair bill of £179 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 25.4% 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.