Small car · 1998–2021 cars
Toyota Vitz reliability
The Toyota Vitz fails 12.6% of first MOT tests, 50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 6,425 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota Vitz before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 12.6%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 50% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 6,425
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 5,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota Vitz ages
Each point is the share of Toyota Vitzs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota Vitz | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1.9% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 8.6% | 19.1% |
| 9 | 14.7% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 6.5% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 11.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 17.4% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 17.4% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 17.7% | 41.1% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota Vitz years
2013 cars come out best and 2012 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 483 | 4.1% | 75% fewer fails | 43,084 |
| 2017 | 272 | 9.2% | 52% fewer fails | 44,520 |
| 2014 | 507 | 10.1% | 57% fewer fails | 47,632 |
| 2013 Vitz | 1,412 | 8.4% | 65% fewer fails | 40,500 |
| 2012 Vitz | 1,531 | 12.8% | 50% fewer fails | 41,865 |
| 2011 | 959 | 15.8% | 45% fewer fails | 47,898 |
| 2010 | 226 | 21.7% | 26% fewer fails | 44,487 |
| 2009 | 329 | 15.2% | 50% fewer fails | 51,947 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota Vitz
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics8.1%11% below avg
- Suspension3.3%56% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.9%33% below avg
- Tyres1.8%65% below avg
- Brakes1.3%76% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.6%70% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.5%79% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.2%36% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.2%62% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.2% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
- 2
Position lamp not working 1% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing 0.96% of tests
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.87% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Rear fog lamp not working 0.86% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 6
Rear fog lamp not steady red 0.78% of tests
A rear fog lamp that is not steady red can confuse following drivers, so the bulb or wiring needs checking.
- 7
Anti-roll bar dust cover unsealed 0.61% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, causing wear that may later need the joint replaced.
- 8
Rear fog lamp switch missing 0.61% of tests
Without a working fog lamp switch, the fog lamps cannot be used properly, so the switch needs fitting or repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Vitz's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit3%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.85%
- Headlamp lens has a coating1.31%
- Brake pads wearing thin1.26%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear1.06%
- Brake disc pitted or scored0.62%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota Vitz
- 1
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
- 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
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 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 Vitz covers about 5,500 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
- Petrol87.4%
- Hybrid12.5%
- Diesel0.1%
- Other0%
Most common colours
Silver, White, Black, Blue, Grey
Average engine size: 1.2 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota Vitz compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Vitz | 12.6% | 50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Cube | 29.3% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Figaro | 36.7% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG ZR | 37.5% | 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Suzuki Liana | 48.6% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Accent | 46.1% | 21% 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 Vitz questions, answered
Is the Toyota Vitz reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota Vitz is better than average: it fails 12.6% of first MOT tests, 50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 2 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota Vitz MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Vitz are anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed (1.2% of tests), position lamp not working (1% of tests), obligatory rear fog lamp missing (0.96% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 8.1% of its tests.
Which Toyota Vitz year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2012 cars do worst (50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Toyota Vitz do a year?
A typical Toyota Vitz covers about 5,500 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 Vitz 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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