MPV and people carrier · 2000–2018 cars
Toyota Verso reliability
The Toyota Verso fails 27.6% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 90,521 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota Verso before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 27.6%
- 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
- 90,521
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 8,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota Verso ages
Each point is the share of Toyota Versos of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota Verso | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 16% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 15.5% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 18.7% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 19.8% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 23.8% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 27% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 30.7% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 33.4% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 35% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 36.8% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 37.7% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 36.9% | 42.3% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota Verso years
2015 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Verso | 2,688 | 16.3% | 6% more fails | 36,587 |
| 2017 Verso | 7,241 | 17.1% | 2% fewer fails | 42,642 |
| 2016 Verso | 10,948 | 19.3% | 9% fewer fails | 55,292 |
| 2015 Verso | 10,070 | 21% | 13% fewer fails | 64,515 |
| 2014 Verso | 9,443 | 24.4% | 12% fewer fails | 72,148 |
| 2013 Verso | 10,505 | 28.4% | 10% fewer fails | 83,719 |
| 2012 Verso | 9,629 | 33.4% | 1% fewer fails | 88,076 |
| 2011 Verso | 12,648 | 32.7% | 9% fewer fails | 87,303 |
| 2010 Verso | 10,234 | 38% | 4% fewer fails | 104,147 |
| 2009 Verso | 6,366 | 36.1% | 12% fewer fails | 108,642 |
| 2008 | 305 | 31.5% | 28% fewer fails | 118,983 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota Verso
Its weak spot is lights and electrics: 26% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics15%26% above avg
- Tyres5.7%15% below avg
- Brakes5.4%21% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.1%11% above avg
- Suspension4.8%51% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.4%56% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure1.2%63% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1%19% above avg
- Steering0.9%56% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 5.55% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.75% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Horn not working 1.96% of tests
A non-working horn removes a key warning tool for other road users, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.92% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.71% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Registration plate lamp not working 1.56% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 7
Direction indicator wrong colour 1.5% of tests
An indicator showing the wrong colour may confuse other drivers, so the lens or bulb should be replaced.
- 8
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.31% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Verso's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit14.38%
- Brake disc pitted or scored11.23%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.81%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.64%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy6.54%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear4.25%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota Verso
- 1
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.
- 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
Horn not working
A non-working horn removes a key warning tool for other road users, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 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 Verso covers about 8,500 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
- Petrol56.3%
- Diesel43.1%
- LPG0.6%
- Other0%
- Hybrid0%
Most common colours
Grey, Blue, Silver, White, Black
Average engine size: 1.7 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota Verso compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Estima | 20.8% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volkswagen Sharan | 25.4% | 11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Verso | 27.6% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Alhambra | 26% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ford Grand C-Max | 31% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Scenic | 44.1% | 27% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Grand Scenic | 46.3% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Toyota models.
Questions
Toyota Verso questions, answered
Is the Toyota Verso reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota Verso is about average: it fails 27.6% of first MOT tests, 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 12 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota Verso MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Verso are position lamp not working (5.55% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.75% of tests), horn not working (1.96% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 15% of its tests.
Which Toyota Verso year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2015 cars do best (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (6% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Toyota Verso do a year?
A typical Toyota Verso covers about 8,500 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 Verso 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.
Found a Toyota Verso? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.