2012 Toyota Yaris — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 164,656 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Toyota Yaris, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility. Its pass rate of 82.6% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (77.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.6% in the 150k+ group versus 11.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 19,514 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 14,193 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.0% | 8,186 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 6,350 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.8% | 6,291 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 1,687 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 9,906 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 9,313 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 5,840 |
| 4 | Washers | 4,433 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 3,819 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3,723 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.0% | 41,156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.2% | 34,955 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.9% | 31,098 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.7% | 12,707 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 11,123 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 6,237 |
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 | 14,190 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 60,683 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 56,254 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 24,156 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 7,020 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,341 | 23.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 140,601 | 17.2% |
| Hybrid | 12,645 | 17.3% |
| Diesel | 8,844 | 19.9% |
| Other | 1,301 | 16.3% |
| Electric | 1,261 | 19.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32,598 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 32,696 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 33,158 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 32,791 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 33,413 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Yaris
Before buying a 2012 Toyota Yaris, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (5.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2012 Toyota Yariss pass their MOT?
82.6% of the 164,656 2012 Toyota Yaris MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Yaris?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2012 Yaris get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 164,656 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.