Small car · 1996–2021 cars
Toyota Starlet reliability
The Toyota Starlet fails 34.6% of first MOT tests, 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 10,578 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota Starlet before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 34.6%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 3% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 10,578
- 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 Starlet ages
Each point is the share of Toyota Starlets of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota Starlet | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 40.7% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 33.1% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 35.5% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 37% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota Starlet years
1999 cars come out best and 1997 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Starlet | 2,553 | 34.4% | 5% fewer fails | 82,754 |
| 1998 Starlet | 5,114 | 36.5% | 3% more fails | 85,238 |
| 1997 Starlet | 1,622 | 36.6% | 5% more fails | 83,950 |
| 1996 | 263 | 36.5% | 6% more fails | 84,555 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota Starlet
Its weak spot is number plates and vin: 63% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics14%11% below avg
- Suspension10.5%15% below avg
- Brakes10.1%11% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure9.9%16% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks7.6%11% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.3%5% below avg
- Tyres5.1%16% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.6%49% below avg
- Number plates and VIN1.2%63% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 4.14% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.92% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Shock absorber serious fluid leak 2.83% of tests
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
- 4
Position lamp not working 2.82% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.8% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 6
Stop lamp not working 2.72% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 7
Service brakes uneven across an axle 2.62% of tests
One wheel is braking much less than its pair, so the car may pull to one side and stop poorly.
- 8
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.35% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Starlet's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.67%
- Wheel bearing slight play9.79%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.25%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive9.08%
- Shock absorber light oil misting8.9%
- Number plate lettering deteriorating7.47%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota Starlet
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 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
Shock absorber serious fluid leak
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
- 4
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.
- 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
- Petrol99.8%
- Diesel0.2%
- Hybrid0%
Most common colours
Blue, Red, Silver, White, Green
Average engine size: 1.3 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota Starlet compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Fit | 11.6% | 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Cube | 29.3% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover Mini | 29.1% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Starlet | 34.6% | 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 25 | 39.7% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Grand Modus | 47.8% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Kalos | 53.6% | 44% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Toyota models.
Questions
Toyota Starlet questions, answered
Is the Toyota Starlet reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota Starlet is about average: it fails 34.6% of first MOT tests, 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 12 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota Starlet MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Starlet are cv joint boot split or insecure (4.14% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.92% of tests), shock absorber serious fluid leak (2.83% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 14% of its tests.
Which Toyota Starlet year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 1999 cars do best (5% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1997 cars do worst (5% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Toyota Starlet 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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