Used car guide

2021 Toyota Proace City Active: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Toyota Proace City Actives, from 592 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

592MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
12,800typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for wipers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Toyota Proace City Actives than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Wipers3.3× usual
    Toyota Proace City Active
    12.5% All 2021 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.8%, against 2.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Number plate lights14.3× usual
    Toyota Proace City Active
    8.6% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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.

  • Brake pads1.9× usual
    Toyota Proace City Active
    13% All 2021 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Headlights14× usual
    Toyota Proace City Active
    5.6% All 2021 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 0.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 3.5% here, against 11.5% of all 2021 cars.

By area

The share of 2021 Toyota Proace City Active MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    22% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    20% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    19% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    18% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    3% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022517Tyres 26%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Toyota Proace City Actives registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score