Diesel Toyota Corolla: MOT pass rate

69.7% of diesel Toyota Corollas pass the MOT first time, measured across 8,092 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 135,516.

Diesel against the other Toyota Corolla versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Toyota Corolla specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 92.7%, and this diesel version sits 6.2 points below the 75.9% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Toyota Corolla fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Toyota Corolla had covered 135,516 miles at test, against 101,105 for the petrol and 61,526 for the hybrid. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Toyota Corolla page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Toyota Corolla

1. Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit, 2.8% of tests (10.33x the national rate for this defect)
2. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 3% of tests (3.33x the national rate for this defect)
3. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 6.8% of tests (3.04x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.1% of tests (3.03x the national rate for this defect)
5. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 6.6% of tests (2.82x the national rate for this defect)
6. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.6% of tests (2.63x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.5% of tests (2.32x the national rate for this defect)
8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 4.2% of tests (2.21x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.9% of tests (2.21x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.7% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)

From 8,159 DVSA-tracked diesel Toyota Corolla tests, 2024, split out from the Toyota Corolla's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.98% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Toyota Corolla

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A stub axle swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn, 8.8% of tests (13.71x the national rate for this defect)
2. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 8.7% of tests (7.9x the national rate for this defect)
3. 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, 10% of tests (6.57x the national rate for this defect)
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.3% of tests (5.06x the national rate for this defect)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 20.8% of tests (4.39x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 22.1% of tests (4.27x the national rate for this defect)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 10.7% of tests (4.04x the national rate for this defect)
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 22.6% of tests (3.65x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 6.8% of tests (3.42x the national rate for this defect), also fails
10. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.4% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)

From 8,159 DVSA-tracked diesel Toyota Corolla tests, 2024.

Other Toyota Corolla fuel types

• Petrol Toyota Corolla - 71.1%
• Hybrid Toyota Corolla - 92.7%

All Toyota Corolla MOT data · Every model