Used car guide

1996 Toyota Starlet: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1996 Toyota Starlets, from 331 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 331 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

331MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 67%)
3,200typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for tread depth

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1996 Toyota Starlets than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Tread depth2.5× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    22.1% All 1996 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 0.9% of all 1996 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.

  • Shock absorbers3× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    19% All 1996 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 1.5% of all 1996 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) joints2.8× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    11.5% All 1996 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 1.6% of all 1996 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.

By area

The share of 1996 Toyota Starlet MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    34% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% 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
    27% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% 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
    16% 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 Starlet?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1999472Lights and electrics 36%
19981,048Suspension 38%
1997701Suspension 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1996 Toyota Starlets registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score