Toyota Paseo
Registered from 1996 to 1997.
About this model
The Toyota Paseo is a sports-styled subcompact car sold from 1991 until 1999 by Toyota and was directly based on the Tercel. It was available as a coupé and in later models as a convertible. Toyota stopped selling the car in the United States in 1997, however the car continued to be sold in Canada, Europe and Japan until 1999. The Paseo, like the Tercel, shares a platform with the Starlet. Several parts are interchangeable between the three.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota Paseo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1996 1.5 petrol. 24 of 122 tests failed, 20%.
Better than 79% of 1996 cars. The typical one fails 25%, across 162 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 79% | 19 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 50% | 12 |
| Body and structure | 25% | 6 |
| Brakes | 25% | 6 |
| Tyres and wheels | 13% | 3 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 8% | 2 |
The defects inspectors cite
- 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
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
- A wheel bearing excessively rough
- A wheel bearing with excessive play
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
Where it stands out against its peers
- Suspension: failed more often than 99% of 1996 cars — 79% of its 24 failed tests, where an ordinary 1996 car has 37%.
- Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 90% of 1996 cars — 50% of its 24 failed tests, where an ordinary 1996 car has 25%.
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.
- Suspension — 79% 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 shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Exhaust and emissions — 50% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Brakes — 25% of its failures
- Tyres and wheels — 13% of its failures
- A wheel bearing excessively rough
- A wheel bearing with excessive play
- Body and structure — 25% 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
- Seat belts and airbags — 8% of its failures