Sports car and convertible · 1996–2021 cars
Toyota Celica reliability
The Toyota Celica fails 39.4% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 31,209 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota Celica before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 39.4%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 8% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 31,209
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota Celica ages
Each point is the share of Toyota Celicas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota Celica | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 36.1% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 38.7% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 39.8% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 40.1% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 41.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 40.1% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 38.6% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 37.9% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 38.9% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 38.6% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 38.7% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota Celica years
2006 cars come out best and 1998 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 316 | 32% | 28% fewer fails | 130,545 |
| 2006 Celica | 3,169 | 37.7% | 12% fewer fails | 101,009 |
| 2005 Celica | 4,543 | 39.4% | 10% fewer fails | 108,587 |
| 2004 Celica | 5,302 | 41.5% | 6% fewer fails | 114,018 |
| 2003 Celica | 4,821 | 41% | 8% fewer fails | 116,829 |
| 2002 Celica | 3,683 | 38.5% | 12% fewer fails | 115,997 |
| 2001 Celica | 3,229 | 37.8% | 11% fewer fails | 119,395 |
| 2000 Celica | 1,782 | 40.6% | 1% fewer fails | 115,822 |
| 1999 Celica | 1,502 | 39.5% | 0% fewer fails | 116,724 |
| 1998 Celica | 1,766 | 40.1% | 4% more fails | 123,382 |
| 1997 | 542 | 38.7% | 1% more fails | 126,941 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota Celica
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 47% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics18.9%10% below avg
- Brakes13.4%3% below avg
- Suspension12.8%24% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks11.1%47% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure8.2%14% below avg
- Tyres5.7%11% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.3%30% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.9%39% below avg
- Steering1.1%75% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 4.61% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 2
Position lamp not working 4.38% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits 3.77% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 4
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.27% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 5
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 3.17% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 6
Coil spring fractured or broken 2.82% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.77% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 8
Stop lamp not working 2.53% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Celica's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy11.57%
- Brake disc pitted or scored11.49%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit11.47%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive9.56%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion8.43%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.89%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota Celica
- 1
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 4
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol100%
- LPG0%
- Diesel0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Red, Grey
Average engine size: 1.8 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota Celica compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar XK | 17.8% | 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XKR | 22.6% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Paceman | 15.5% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz SLC | 11.8% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG TF | 30.8% | 13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Celica | 39.4% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo C70 | 38.9% | 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Toyota models.
Questions
Toyota Celica questions, answered
Is the Toyota Celica reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota Celica is about average: it fails 39.4% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 55 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota Celica MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Celica are headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (4.61% of tests), position lamp not working (4.38% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (3.77% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 18.9% of its tests.
Which Toyota Celica year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1998 cars do worst (4% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Toyota Celica before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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