2012 Toyota Aygo: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Toyota Aygos, from 14,632 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What stands out
Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Toyota Aygos than on all cars registered in 2012.
- Anti-roll bar link bushes21.7× usualToyota Aygo13% All 2012 cars0.6%Rough price £50–£150
At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.
- Rigid brake pipes3.2× usualToyota Aygo17.6% All 2012 cars5.5%Rough price £100–£400
At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.
- Rust around suspension or steering mountings5.8× usualToyota Aygo5.8% All 2012 cars1%Rough price £80–£450
At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.
- Braking performance2× usualToyota Aygo9.7% All 2012 cars4.9%Rough price £100–£350
At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.
- Sub-frame1.9× usualToyota Aygo9.7% All 2012 cars5%Rough price £300–£1,000
At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
Engine oil leaks: 1.8% here, against 7.3% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 0.7% here, against 5.6% of all 2012 cars.
By area
The share of 2012 Toyota Aygo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Brakes38% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Suspension36% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Lights and electrics32% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Tyres31% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Exhaust and emissions11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200
At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors7% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,766 | Tyres 24% |
| 2020 | 16,250 | Tyres 29% |
| 2019 | 22,069 | Tyres 30% |
| 2018 | 21,889 | Tyres 32% |
| 2017 | 21,381 | Tyres 31% |
| 2016 | 22,129 | Tyres 30% |
| 2015 | 23,152 | Tyres 29% |
| 2014 | 19,302 | Tyres 30% |
| 2013 | 15,068 | Brakes 32% |
| 2011 | 12,581 | Brakes 41% |
| 2010 | 11,360 | Brakes 43% |
| 2009 | 12,119 | Brakes 45% |
| 2008 | 10,458 | Suspension 48% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Toyota Aygos registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score