Toyota
Starlet
10,048 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Starlets pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 5.7 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
71.8%
Pass-after-fix
4.7%
Fail
22.8%
Avg miles
93,295
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Starlet: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass
Across 4,584 MOT tests, the Starlet returns 71.4% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a split CV-joint boot. A missing CV-joint boot and shock absorber damaged to the extent round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 92,091, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 10–28
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. 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 →
10–28
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
- 01
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
872 occurrences · 8.7% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
358 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 03
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
325 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
322 occurrences · 3.2% of tests
- 05
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
277 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 06
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
257 occurrences · 2.6% of tests
- 07
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
237 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 08
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
236 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 09
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
202 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 10
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
196 occurrences · 2.0% 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.
Try the calculator
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.
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
1 UK recall on record.
The Starlet has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Starlet?
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 a Starlet 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.