Sports car and convertible · 2012–2021 cars
Toyota GT86 reliability
The Toyota GT86 fails 14.8% of first MOT tests, 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 24,067 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota GT86 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 14.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 37% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 24,067
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota GT86 ages
Each point is the share of Toyota GT86s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota GT86 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5.3% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 9.3% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 11.2% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 11.8% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 13.7% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 13.6% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 15.5% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 18.8% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 20% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 18.4% | 37.3% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota GT86 years
2013 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 467 | 5.4% | 49% fewer fails | 20,439 |
| 2019 GT86 | 1,028 | 8.9% | 23% fewer fails | 23,132 |
| 2018 GT86 | 1,715 | 9.5% | 29% fewer fails | 27,805 |
| 2017 GT86 | 2,260 | 11.1% | 30% fewer fails | 34,618 |
| 2016 GT86 | 2,284 | 12.2% | 34% fewer fails | 42,205 |
| 2015 GT86 | 2,709 | 14.1% | 35% fewer fails | 48,122 |
| 2014 GT86 | 3,565 | 16.9% | 35% fewer fails | 57,806 |
| 2013 GT86 | 5,648 | 16.9% | 41% fewer fails | 63,327 |
| 2012 GT86 | 4,388 | 18.6% | 39% fewer fails | 68,553 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota GT86
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres4.1%27% below avg
- Lights and electrics4.1%49% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.9%24% below avg
- Brakes2.7%44% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2%10% above avg
- Suspension1.8%72% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.5%72% below avg
- Steering0.3%77% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.3%37% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.63% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.48% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Lambda reading outside specified limits 0.89% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 4
Registration plate lamp not working 0.8% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 5
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.7% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 0.63% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 7
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.62% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 8
Service brake excessively binding 0.51% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota GT86's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit9.74%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.08%
- Brake disc pitted or scored4.82%
- Brake pads wearing thin4.68%
- Service brake slightly binding1.97%
- Brake discs showing some wear1.52%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota GT86
- 1
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 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
Registration plate lamp not working
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 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 typical Toyota GT86 covers about 6,500 miles a year. A big gap or 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%
Most common colours
White, Red, Black, Blue, Grey
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota GT86 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Audi R8 | 7.7% | 63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota GT86 | 14.8% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Paceman | 15.5% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan 350 Z | 26.1% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XK8 | 25.9% | 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota MR2 | 33.3% | 17% 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 GT86 questions, answered
Is the Toyota GT86 reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota GT86 is better than average: it fails 14.8% of first MOT tests, 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 31 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota GT86 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota GT86 are tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.63% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.48% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (0.89% of tests). By area, tyres fails 4.1% of its tests.
Which Toyota GT86 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Toyota GT86 do a year?
A typical Toyota GT86 covers about 6,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Toyota GT86 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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