Toyota
IQ
28,480 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where IQs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 2.0 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
79.5%
Pass-after-fix
5.6%
Fail
14.4%
Avg miles
70,700
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
Toyota IQ: mixed MOT record across 19,931 tests
The Toyota iQ is a city car manufactured by Toyota and marketed in a single generation for Japan (2008–2016); Europe (2008–2015); and North America (2012–2015), where it was marketed as the Scion iQ. A rebadged variant was marketed in Europe as the Aston Martin Cygnet (2011–2013).
MOT data from 19,931 tests puts this car on a 79.5% first-time pass rate, roughly in line with the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 66,881 miles. The most common fail item is headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective, followed by failed number plate light.
Triumph of 4-seater packaging that still earned 5 NCAP stars. Most models 99g/km so VED free. Better to drive than a Smart or a Fiat 500.
Buyers weighing up a used IQ should treat the failure breakdown as a pre-purchase checklist. The pass rate is reasonable, but the gap between first attempt and a clean sheet narrows with age and mileage.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 3–7
A low-group car — among the cheapest to insure in the UK. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
3–7
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
798 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 02
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
644 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 03
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
591 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
504 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 05
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
480 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 06
Wiper blade defective
478 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 07
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
477 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
- 08
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
412 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 09
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
368 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 10
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
361 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£178–£595
If every one of this IQ's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Toyota Oil Filter Replacement Tool
£29.69
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Toyota Super White No. 2 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Toyota Lucerne Silver Metallic 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Toyota Tyrol Silver Metallic 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
9 UK recalls on record.
The IQ has 9 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping an IQ?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an IQ and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.