Toyota Celica
From 15,842 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 the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 693 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 aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 693 |
| 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 | 621 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 466 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 412 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 365 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 363 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 353 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 325 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 306 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 289 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.2% of Celica failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 14.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £131.
Toyota Celica on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,233 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 12 newly registered, a net loss of 1,221. At this rate, roughly 13.8 years until none remain. Now at 28.1% of its peak (59,886 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 7,356 | 9,487 | +3 | -141 | -138 |
| 2025 Q2 | 7,570 | 9,411 | +4 | -175 | -171 |
| 2025 Q1 | 7,648 | 9,504 | +2 | -387 | -385 |
| 2024 Q4 | 7,940 | 9,597 | +3 | -530 | -527 |
| 2024 Q3 | 8,390 | 9,674 | +1 | -336 | -335 |
| 2024 Q2 | 8,692 | 9,707 | +4 | -180 | -176 |
| 2024 Q1 | 8,804 | 9,771 | +4 | -269 | -265 |
| 2023 Q4 | 9,072 | 9,768 | +4 | -247 | -243 |
12 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celica Vvti | Petrol | 2,952 | 42% |
| Celica T Sport Vvtli | Petrol | 891 | 13% |
| Celica | Petrol | 679 | 10% |
| Celica Vvtl-I Gt | Petrol | 413 | 6% |
| Celica St | Petrol | 366 | 5% |
| Celica Gt | Petrol | 327 | 5% |
| Celica Vvt-I Red | Petrol | 311 | 4% |
| Celica 190 Vvtli | Gas | 287 | 4% |
| Celica Gt 2.0 | Petrol | 265 | 4% |
| Celica Gt-4 | Petrol | 248 | 3% |
| Celica Vvt-I Blue | Petrol | 203 | 3% |
| Celica Sr | Diesel | 165 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 71.9% | 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, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2006 | 70.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 2005 | 69.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2004 | 67.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
14 earlier years
| 2003 | 69.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 2002 | 71.1% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 71.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 70.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 1999 | 67.8% | emissions levels exceed default limits, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1998 | 68.2% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 1997 | 66.9% | 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, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1996 | 70.2% | emissions levels exceed default limits, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1995 | 72.4% | emissions levels exceed default limits, 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 |
| 1994 | 69.1% | 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, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1993 | 69.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 1992 | 75.2% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage |
| 1991 | 68.8% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1990 | 82.7% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
Typical mileage
Half of all Celicas tested had between 89,798 and 152,359 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 118,869 median miles, the Celica 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 Celica MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Celica has a 70.1% MOT pass rate based on 15,842 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Celica?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Celica is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 693 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 Celicas are on UK roads?
There are 7,356 Toyota Celicas currently licensed on UK roads, with 9,487 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Celica at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Celica is 118,869 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 89,798 and 152,359 miles.
Buying a used Celica?
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 70.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £131 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.