Toyota Starlet
From 9,622 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and 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.. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 354 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 354 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 323 |
| 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. | 273 |
| 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 | 271 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 263 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 249 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 225 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 221 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 202 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 183 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 43.3% of Starlet failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 10.6% 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 £161.
Toyota Starlet on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 392 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 389. At this rate, roughly 13 years until none remain. Now at 14% of its peak (36,087 in 1999 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,468 | 2,568 | +1 | -38 | -37 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,536 | 2,537 | +1 | -64 | -63 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,583 | 2,553 | +1 | -112 | -111 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,643 | 2,604 | +0 | -178 | -178 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,775 | 2,650 | +0 | -148 | -148 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,895 | 2,678 | +1 | -72 | -71 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,952 | 2,692 | +2 | -79 | -77 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,049 | 2,672 | +4 | -76 | -72 |
12 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlet Sportif | Diesel | 534 | 23% |
| Starlet S | Petrol | 361 | 16% |
| Starlet Solida | Petrol | 215 | 9% |
| Starlet Sportif Auto | Petrol | 178 | 8% |
| Starlet Gls | Petrol | 168 | 7% |
| Starlet Gls Auto | Diesel | 163 | 7% |
| Starlet Cd | Petrol | 156 | 7% |
| Starlet S Auto | Petrol | 139 | 6% |
| Starlet 1.3 | Petrol | 128 | 6% |
| Starlet Cd Auto | Petrol | 106 | 5% |
| Starlet Gl | Diesel | 76 | 3% |
| Starlet Sr | Petrol | 73 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 71% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1998 | 70.7% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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. |
| 1997 | 71.4% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1996 | 72.4% | 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, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
Typical mileage
Half of all Starlets tested had between 52,215 and 135,853 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 82,732 median miles, the Starlet has 0.034 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 Starlet MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Starlet has a 72% MOT pass rate based on 9,622 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Starlet?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Starlet is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 354 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Toyota Starlets are on UK roads?
There are 2,468 Toyota Starlets currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,568 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Starlet at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Starlet is 82,732 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 52,215 and 135,853 miles.
Buying a used Starlet?
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 72% pass rate and an average repair bill of £161 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 43.3% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.