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Toyota Corolla (before 2019) steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 39,864 MOT tests · Updated

At 18 years, 0.9 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota Corolla (before 2019) failed on steering, against 3.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 39,864 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years), 377 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 13 ages from 13 to 25 years, 238,334 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 18 years: 39,864 for the Toyota Corolla (before 2019)

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.9 fails per 100 MOT tests at 18 years, against 3.9 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 18 (all test years). The Toyota Corolla (before 2019) fails less often here.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Toyota Corolla (before 2019) steering fails by age

Toyota Corolla (before 2019) steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Toyota Corolla (before 2019). Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02413 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 1,660 MOT tests1314 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 5,812 MOT tests15 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 11,233 MOT tests1516 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 25,937 MOT tests17 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 36,928 MOT tests1718 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 39,864 MOT tests19 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 38,839 MOT tests1920 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 28,873 MOT tests21 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 18,833 MOT tests2122 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 12,428 MOT tests23 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 8,203 MOT tests2324 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 5,730 MOT tests25 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 3,994 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Toyota Corolla (before 2019) All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
131,6600.72.9
145,8120.83.2
1511,2330.73.3
1625,9370.73.4
1736,9280.93.6
1839,8640.93.9
19*38,8391.14.1
20*28,8731.04.2
21*18,8331.04.2
22*12,4280.74.0
23*8,2030.63.9
24*5,7300.53.7
25*3,9940.43.7

All first-use years of the Toyota Corolla (before 2019) pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 18 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
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See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.6 petrol: 0.7 per 100 at 18 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 16,754 MOT tests)
  • 1.4 petrol: 0.9 per 100 at 18 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,821 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Toyota Corolla (before 2019), not the average

The figures here describe Toyota Corolla (before 2019) cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Toyota Corolla (before 2019) problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Toyota Corolla (before 2019) have more steering problems than other cars?

0.2 to 0.3 times the steering fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 18 years (all test years), from 39,864 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 3 of the 13 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Toyota Corolla (before 2019) steering problems?

0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 18 years failed on steering, against 3.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 39,864 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 238,334 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare