Toyota Corolla, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls
163,483 Toyota Corollas are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 78.6% of initial MOT tests, 6.3 points above the 72.3% UK average.
Looking at a specific Corolla? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.
Toyota Corolla at the MOT
78.6% of 126,958 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the Corolla 220th of 575 models. Toyota Corollas aged 3 to 5 years passed 89.6% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 59.5%.
First-time pass rate, 2025
Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.
Pass rate by age at test
Toyota Corolla tests in 2025.
Where Corollas fail
Share of all failure items recorded on Toyota Corolla tests in 2025.
The items testers recorded most often were wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively (7.6%), headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (5.4%) and position lamp not working (4.9%).
The MOT page lists every common Corolla MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.
What to look at on a viewing
The Corolla's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.
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Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.31.9% of Corolla failure items
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Brakes
Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.18.7% of Corolla failure items
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Visibility
Check the windscreen for chips or cracks in the driver's view, and that the wipers and washers clear it properly.12% of Corolla failure items
Toyota Corollas in the UK
163,483 were licensed at the end of June 2026. The number licensed has fallen 12% since the end of 2014.
- Change since 2014
- −12%from 185,632 licensed
- Typical year of first use
- 2021half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2021 or earlier
- First registered in 2025
- 15,039against 20,013 in 2023
- Declared off the road
- 25,16613% of those registered, under SORN
Licensed Toyota Corollas since 2014
Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.
Show the figures
| Date | Licensed |
|---|---|
| End of 2014 | 185,632 |
| End of 2015 | 171,945 |
| End of 2016 | 158,185 |
| End of 2017 | 142,897 |
| End of 2018 | 127,344 |
| End of 2019 | 126,712 |
| End of 2020 | 129,739 |
| End of 2021 | 134,868 |
| End of 2022 | 142,234 |
| End of 2023 | 150,237 |
| End of 2024 | 153,744 |
| End of 2025 | 159,843 |
| End of June 2026 | 163,483 |
How old they are
Licensed Toyota Corollas by year of first use.
- Licensed at the end of 2025
- First registered that year
A further 25,237 were first used before 2006.
Show the figures
| First used | Licensed, end 2025 | First registered that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13,747 | 15,039 |
| 2024 | 14,074 | 15,288 |
| 2023 | 19,155 | 20,013 |
| 2022 | 18,045 | 19,144 |
| 2021 | 18,563 | 19,444 |
| 2020 | 17,419 | 18,253 |
| 2019 | 14,712 | 15,517 |
| 2018 | 0 | 89 |
| 2017 | 30 | 274 |
| 2016 | 0 | 98 |
| 2015 | 1 | 152 |
| 2014 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 9 | |
| 2009 | 1,018 | |
| 2008 | 2,632 | |
| 2007 | 3,473 | |
| 2006 | 9,978 |
Corolla engines and fuel
1.8 litre engines made up 56% of Toyota Corolla MOT tests in 2025, followed by 1.6 litre at 15%. Hybrid electric accounts for 75% of licensed Corollas and petrol for 22%.
Engine size at MOT, 2025
Share of 126,941 initial MOT tests in 2025.
Fuel type, licensed Corollas
DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.
| Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 35,453 | 22% |
| Diesel | 5,150 | 3% |
| Hybrid electric | 122,813 | 75% |
| Other fuels | 67 | <0.1% |
Toyota Corolla recalls
30 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Toyota Corolla. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every Corolla is affected.
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Nov 2025 R/2025/270
Combination Meter Reprogramming on Multiple Models
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- For certain vehicles equipped with the combination meter system (where various information is displayed) that due to an improper programming of the combination meter unnecessarily repetitive data is written to a memory device. This may cause the memory device to deteriorate and the monitor to not display during the meter at start up and remain in this state permanently.
- Remedy
- Reprogram or replace the combination meter.
-
Jan 2025 R/2024/514
High-Pressure Fuel Pump replacement on multiple models
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- For certain vehicles that were affected by a previous campaign announced in October 2023 for high-pressure fuel pump a further check is required to confirm if the correct pump is fitted.
- Remedy
- A check of the high-pressure fuel pump and replace if necessary.
-
Jan 2025 R/2024/463
Brake actuator Skid control ECU reprogram on Certain Toyota Corolla 24SD-146
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- For certain vehicles there is an issue involving the skid control software of the skid control Electronic Control Unit (ECU) where a hard brake pedal feel cannot be ruled out.
- Remedy
- The remedy for the concern will be to reprogram the Brake Actuator (Skid control ECU)
-
Nov 2023 R/2023/298
Affected vehicles are fitted with a high-pressure fuel pump which over time could develop a crack which could lead to a fuel leak and a risk of a vehicle fire
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- Affected vehicles are fitted with a high-pressure fuel pump which over time could develop a crack which could lead to a fuel leak and a risk of a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Check and replace high pressure fuel pump if necessary.
-
Oct 2023 R/2023/279
On affected vehicles there is a possibility that the DCM may not complete the shutdown process within a specific period of time when the ignition is turned off causing the DCM to not restart at the next ignition cycle and making the e-Call function unavailable. As a result the vehicles do not comply with relevant regulations
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- The software of the DCM (Data Communication Module) will be updated via an Over the Air (OTA) wireless update.
-
Nov 2021 R/2021/315
The emergency calling system (eCall) may not function when required
Defect and remedy
- Remedy
- Inspect the emergency calling system and update DCM software. If the DCM is found to be damaged replace it with updated software.
-
Jun 2021 R/2021/185
The inside of the high pressure fuel pump may be worn or damaged over time during operation
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- The inside of the high-pressure fuel pump may be worn or damaged over time during operation.
- Remedy
- Inspect* and if necessary replace the high-pressure fuel pump. (*Based on engine variant and/or pump manufacturer/pump serial number.)
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May 2021 R/2021/104
There is a possibility that the exhaust gas recirculation cooler could develop an internal coolant leak
Defect and remedy
- Defect
- A possibility that the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler could develop an internal coolant leak
- Remedy
- Replace the EGR cooler in all involved vehicles and if necessary replace the inlet manifold.
Corolla vs similar cars
Head-to-head comparisons on the same 2025 DVSA data.
Other Toyota models
The most-tested Toyota models in 2025, against the Corolla's 78.6% MOT pass rate.
Toyota Corolla FAQs
How many Toyota Corollas are there in the UK?
163,483 Toyota Corollas were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 25,166 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.
Is the Toyota Corolla reliable?
MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 78.6% first-time pass rate for the Toyota Corolla across 126,958 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.
Has the Toyota Corolla had any recalls?
30 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Toyota Corolla. The most recent was published in November 2025. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.
What should I check before buying a used Toyota Corolla?
On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, brakes and visibility. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.
How do I check a Toyota Corolla's history?
Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Already found a Corolla?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Toyota history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Toyota VIN check.
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off records
- Stolen markers
- Mileage history
- Previous keepers
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.