Petrol Toyota Corolla: MOT pass rate

71.1% of petrol Toyota Corollas pass the MOT first time, measured across 49,672 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 101,105.

Petrol against the other Toyota Corolla versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Toyota Corolla specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 92.7%, and this petrol version sits 4.8 points below the 75.9% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol 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 petrol Toyota Corolla had covered 101,105 miles at test, against 61,526 for the hybrid and 135,516 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

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 petrol Toyota Corolla

1. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 4.1% of tests (3.94x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 3.2% of tests (3.41x the national rate for this defect)
3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 7.7% of tests (3.26x the national rate for this defect)
4. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 2.5% of tests (2.38x the national rate for this defect)
5. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 4.1% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this defect)
6. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.5% of tests (2x the national rate for this defect)
7. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.6% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
8. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.9% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.2% of tests (1.68x the national rate for this defect)
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.4% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this defect)

From 50,038 DVSA-tracked petrol Toyota Corolla tests, 2024, split out from the Toyota Corolla's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.47% 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 petrol Toyota Corolla

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

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 10% of tests (9.02x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 10.8% of tests (7.12x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.4% of tests (5.16x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 10% of tests (4.98x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 11.4% of tests (4.31x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 21.6% of tests (4.18x the national rate for this defect)
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 18.9% of tests (3.99x the national rate for this defect)
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 19.9% of tests (3.21x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 11.6% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect)
10. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.8% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)

From 50,038 DVSA-tracked petrol Toyota Corolla tests, 2024.

Other Toyota Corolla fuel types

• Hybrid Toyota Corolla - 92.7%
• Diesel Toyota Corolla - 69.7%

All Toyota Corolla MOT data · Every model