Used car guide

1997 Toyota Corolla: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 Toyota Corollas, from 406 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 406 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

406MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
3,500typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 Toyota Corollas than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Shock absorbers3.3× usual
    Toyota Corolla
    21.4% All 1997 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.5% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.4× usual
    Toyota Corolla
    15.5% All 1997 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 1.8% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints8.3× usual
    Toyota Corolla
    11.6% All 1997 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 0.3% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Tread depth2.1× usual
    Toyota Corolla
    19.7% All 1997 cars
    9.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.9% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Number plates2.2× usual
    Toyota Corolla
    11.1% All 1997 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.6% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

By area

The share of 1997 Toyota Corolla MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% 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.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    26% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    20% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Toyota Corolla?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20233,095Tyres 19%
202219,168Tyres 22%
202119,981Tyres 24%
202019,016Tyres 23%
201916,473Tyres 24%
20091,141Suspension 43%
20082,855Lights and electrics 42%
20073,778Lights and electrics 45%
200610,838Lights and electrics 46%
20059,472Brakes 47%
20045,977Brakes 49%
20034,501Brakes 47%
20022,946Brakes 47%
20011,676Brakes 36%
2000896Suspension 41%
1999947Suspension 41%
1998773Suspension 51%
1996158Suspension 44%
1995109Suspension 44%
1994145Suspension 42%
1993145Suspension 39%
1992106Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 Toyota Corollas registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score