Toyota Carina

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 1.8 petrol. 49 of 189 tests failed, 26%.

Better than 50% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
• Exhaust system leaking or insecure
• The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
• A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
• Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 93% of 1997 cars — 51% of its 49 failed tests, where an ordinary 1997 car has 24%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• Exhaust and emissions — 51% of its failures
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Exhaust system leaking or insecure
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
• Brakes — 37% of its failures
• Suspension — 35% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
  • A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• Lights and electrics — 37% of its failures
  • A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Body and structure — 41% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Visibility — 16% of its failures

When it starts failing

At 120–140k miles this one fails 36% of its inspections, against the 27% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

107 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.

Specification