Toyota Starlet
Registered from 1992 to 2017.
About this model
The Toyota Starlet is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1973 until 1999, replacing the Publica, but retaining the Publica's "P" code and generation numbering. The first generation Starlet was sold as the Publica Starlet in some markets. In Japan, it was exclusive to Toyota Auto Store dealers.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota Starlet, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1998 1.3 petrol. 404 of 1,649 tests failed, 24%.
Better than 57% of 1998 cars. The typical one fails 25%, across 269 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 36% | 145 |
| Suspension | 34% | 138 |
| Body and structure | 32% | 131 |
| Lights and electrics | 30% | 123 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 26% | 107 |
| Tyres and wheels | 17% | 69 |
The defects inspectors cite
- 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
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 36% of its failures
- Suspension — 34% of its failures
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Exhaust and emissions — 26% of its failures
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Tyres and wheels — 17% of its failures
- 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.
- Lights and electrics — 30% of its failures
- Body and structure — 32% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 160–180k miles this one fails 32% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 17% | 17% | 102 | |
| 40–60k miles | 20% | 21% | 269 | |
| 60–80k miles | 23% | 23% | 349 | |
| 80–100k miles | 25% | 25% | 322 | |
| 100–120k miles | 28% | 26% | 278 | |
| 120–140k miles | 28% | 27% | 152 | |
| 140–160k miles | 33% | 26% | 91 | |
| 160–180k miles | 32% | 29% | 50 |
1,613 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00160/20
The ammonium nitrate propellant used in the airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed, it may deploy too slowly or the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the occupants.
Recall of the product from end users