Toyota Vitz
Registered from 2008 to 2021.
About this model
The Toyota Vitz is a subcompact car produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota from 1999 to 2019 in a three- or five-door hatchback body styles. The "Vitz" nameplate was used consistently in Japan, while most international markets received the same vehicle as the Toyota Yaris, or as the Toyota Echo in some markets for the first generation. The Vitz was available in Japan from Toyota's Netz Store dealerships. Toyota began production in Japan and later assembled the vehicle in other Asian countries and in France.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota Vitz, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2012 1.3 petrol. 20 of 222 tests failed, 9%.
Better than 95% of 2012 cars. The typical one fails 21%, across 925 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 60% | 12 |
| Brakes | 25% | 5 |
| Suspension | 25% | 5 |
| Tyres and wheels | 15% | 3 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 10% | 2 |
| Visibility | 10% | 2 |
The defects inspectors cite
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Where it stands out against its peers
- Lights and electrics: failed more often than 96% of 2012 cars — 60% of its 20 failed tests, where an ordinary 2012 car has 31%.
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.
- Brakes — 25% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- A service brake control has insufficient reserve travel
- Suspension — 25% of its failures
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Tyres and wheels — 15% of its failures
- Exhaust and emissions — 10% of its failures
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Lights and electrics — 60% of its failures
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Front or rear fog lamp switch inoperative or not operating in accordance with the requirements
- A battery insecure and likely to fall from carrier or cause a short circuit
- Visibility — 10% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 60–80k miles this one fails 0% of its inspections, against the 21% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 10% | 13% | 78 | |
| 40–60k miles | 13% | 17% | 86 | |
| 60–80k miles | 0% | 21% | 32 |
196 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.