Common problems by part
Toyota iQ exhaust, emissions and leaks problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 15,128 MOT tests · Updated
At 13 years, 1.6 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota iQ failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 4.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 15,128 MOT tests) [1].
Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.
- Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.3–0.4×) (all test years), 248 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 8 ages from 9 to 16 years, 67,409 MOT tests
- Most common fail: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction, 0.6 per 100 MOT tests
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
1.6 fails per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 4.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 13 (all test years). The Toyota iQ fails less often here.
Why it matters
An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.
What to check
Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.
Toyota iQ exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2,162 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
| 10 | 4,483 | 0.6 | 2.8 |
| 11 | 7,051 | 1.0 | 3.2 |
| 12 | 9,967 | 1.6 | 3.7 |
| 13 | 15,128 | 1.6 | 4.3 |
| 14 | 12,611 | 2.1 | 5.1 |
| 15 | 9,943 | 2.2 | 5.7 |
| 16 | 6,064 | 2.6 | 6.2 |
All first-use years of the Toyota iQ pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.
What fails in the exhaust, emissions and leaks at 13 years
Fails
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction: 0.6 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 1.1. Diagnose engine warning light: estimated £39–£78 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts) Malfunction indicator lamp inoperative or indicates a malfunction MOT fail
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits: 0.6 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.7. Petrol exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits MOT fail
Diagnose engine warning light cost
Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.
Buying a Toyota iQ? Check that exact car before the viewing.
Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.
- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
How to check on a test drive
Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.
Check one Toyota iQ, not the average
The figures here describe Toyota iQ cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.
- Check a Toyota iQ's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Toyota iQ problems
Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models
- Fiat 500 exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 4.6 per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 1.6 for the Toyota iQ (94,865 MOT tests)
- Hyundai i10 exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 2.6 per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 1.6 for the Toyota iQ (77,568 MOT tests)
- Ford Ka exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 4.1 per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 1.6 for the Toyota iQ (70,543 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Toyota iQ have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?
0.3 to 0.4 times the exhaust, emissions and leaks fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 13 years (all test years), from 15,128 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 5 of the 8 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).
How common are Toyota iQ exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?
1.6 in 100 MOT tests at 13 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 4.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 15,128 MOT tests).
What is the most common Toyota iQ exhaust, emissions and leaks fail?
0.6 in 100 MOT tests at 13 years: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction (96 MOT tests with it).
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 67,409 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
- Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. 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