2002 Toyota Avensis — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,709 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Toyota Avensis, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 73.5% was above the average for large family cars of a similar age (72.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.5% in the 150k+ group versus 12.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,221 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 820 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 797 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.3% | 720 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 528 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.5% | 425 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 673 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 611 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 508 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 473 |
| 5 | Wipers | 335 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 328 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.5% | 2,276 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.2% | 1,945 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.4% | 1,807 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.7% | 1,675 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.6% | 1,277 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 1,212 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 39 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 653 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,799 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 2,229 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,759 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,228 | 32.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,255 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 454 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,373 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 1,891 | 26.8% |
| 2023 | 1,477 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 1,146 | 27.1% |
| 2025 | 822 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Avensis
Before buying a 2002 Toyota Avensis, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (10.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Toyota Avensiss pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 7,709 2002 Toyota Avensis MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Avensis?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.6%).
Does the 2002 Avensis get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,709 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.