Toyota Carina MOT Failures

An analysis of 5,145 real DVSA MOT tests on the Toyota Carina — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: T170 (1987–1992), T190 (1992–1998).

Where the Toyota Carina fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Toyota Carina is brake hoses perished or damaged — this model is 16 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 5,145 MOT tests, 9.84% of all Toyota Carina tests recorded this as a failure.

Brake failures on the MOT range from worn pads and discs (routine maintenance) to corroded brake lines and seized calipers (more serious). Check for any pulling under braking and listen for grinding.

Other notable weak points include anti-roll bar links worn (15x the fleet average), suspension component damaged or corroded (9.3x the fleet average), steering rack wear (31x the fleet average), and emissions failure (25x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Toyota Carina's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 6 categories: Brakes, Suspension, Steering, Exhaust & Emissions, Wipers & Windscreen and others. If you're inspecting a Toyota Carina before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Toyota Carina's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Toyota Carina specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are structural corrosion (22x the average) and vehicle structure corroded to the extent that t... (18x). brake hoses perished or damaged (16x) and anti-roll bar links worn (15x) also appear frequently.

Over 100,000 miles

High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.

For the Toyota Carina specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are steering rack wear (31x the average) and abs fault (12x). wiper fault (12x) and emissions failure (12x) also appear frequently.

The shift from structural corrosion at lower mileages to steering rack wear at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Toyota Carina specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Subframe mounting point corrosion Dangerous

The rear subframe mounting points on both T170 and T190 Carinas are prone to corrosion where the subframe bolts to the main body shell. Affects T170, T190; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£1,500.

Suspension bush and joint wear Major

The rubber suspension bushes throughout the front and rear suspension systems deteriorate at an accelerated rate on the Carina, particularly the front lower arm bushes and rear trailing arm bushes. Affects T170, T190; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£600.

CV joint boot deterioration Major

The constant velocity joint rubber boots on both outer and inner CV joints split and deteriorate at higher than average rates on the Carina. Affects T170, T190; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£200.

Brake hose deterioration Major

The flexible brake hoses on the Carina deteriorate at higher rates than the fleet average, particularly the rubber sections that connect the rigid brake lines to the callipers. Affects T170, T190; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£120.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Toyota Carina common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Toyota Carina

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Toyota Carina:

Brakes — check for brake hoses perished or damaged. Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn, suspension component damaged or corroded, abs fault. Steering — check for steering rack wear.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about subframe mounting point corrosion and suspension bush and joint wear. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £800. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.