Model reliability

Toyota Starlet reliability

The Toyota Starlet fails its MOT about as often as most cars over 10 years old: 34.5% of 3,642 tests failed in 2023, against 39.7% on average.

Over 10 years old

34.5% failed their MOT

About average

From 3,642 MOT tests of Toyota Starlets this age.

Where it does worse than other cars this age

Fails 31% more oftenBrake performance7.6% vs 5.8%

Fails 47% more oftenExhaust emissions7.5% vs 5.1%Fix about £150

Fails 92% more oftenTransmission5% vs 2.6%

Fails 3× as oftenShock absorbers4.6% vs 1.8%Fix about £200

Advised 8× as oftenWheel bearings13.2% vs 1.7%

Advised 3× as oftenShock absorbers12.9% vs 5%Fix about £200

Advised 92% more oftenExhaust system10.2% vs 5.3%Fix about £150

Advised 46% more oftenSprings9.2% vs 6.3%Fix about £150

Safety recalls

1 DVSA recall for the Toyota Starlet

Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.

R/2020/0195 Oct 2020Built 1997–1998Takata airbag inflator may rupture on deployment

The absorption of moisture into the driver�s airbag propellant could lead to slow deployment or inflator rupture

Fix: Replace the airbag inflator or the airbag assembly. Toyota is still preparing for the development and production of the remedy parts

Recalled models: STARLET · 37,586 vehicles

DVSA vehicle safety recalls (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence).

Checking a Toyota Starlet before you buy

Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.

Toyota Starlet reliability

1 DVSA recall for the Toyota Starlet

Checking a Toyota Starlet before you buy

Run this check on every listing, automatically.