Reliability report
Toyota Starlet reliability and common faults
Based on 17,007 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
28.9%
fail rate · average 31.4%
better than average
2,718 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
67.6%
with defects · average 68.4%
about average
13,850 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
37.4%
first-time pass · average 36.2%
better than average
439 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Toyota Starlet
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Suspension
Plates and identificationconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissionsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibility
Brakes
Lights and electrics
Driving controls
Wheels
Seat belts and airbags
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 2Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 3Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge
- 4Shock absorber shows leakage
- 5Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 6Tyre insufficient tread
- 7Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 8Sidelight not working (properly)
- 9Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 10Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 11Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 12Brake difference on 1 axle too large
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 21+ years | 28.9% avg 31.4% | 67.6% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Starlet | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 36.7% | 37.8% | 120 |
| 1997 | 40.5% | 36.9% | 116 |
| 1996 | 39.0% | 35.8% | 77 |
Toyota Starlet – FAQs
How reliable is the Toyota Starlet?+
In the UK the Toyota Starlet fails 28.9% of MOT tests, against an average of 31.4% for cars of the same age – better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 67.6% of APK inspections (average there 68.4%) – about average. In Lithuania 37.4% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 36.2%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Toyota Starlet?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: suspension, plates and identification, exhaust and emissions, body and structure.
What should I check when buying a used Toyota Starlet?+
The most common inspection failures: Excessive leakage of other fluids; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Exhaust system not gas-tight / unsafe exhaust gas discharge; Shock absorber shows leakage; Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Toyota models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted.