Used car guide · 2008–2015

Toyota IQ common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Toyota IQ, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 50,213 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

50,213MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
16,884on the UK register
2014best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20152014201320122011201020092008

What usually goes wrong with a Toyota IQ?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Toyota IQ in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Toyota IQ MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Flexible brake hoses

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Wipers

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

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

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 1.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    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.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Toyota IQ MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2014 Toyota IQ did best (84% passed first time, 14 points above all 2014 cars) and the 2013 did worst (80%, 13 points above all 2013 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201484%70% +142,468
201380%67% +133,850
201278%64% +146,925
201175%62% +137,410
201074%60% +1411,119
200973%59% +1418,441

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Toyota IQ

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the flexible brake hoses? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the Toyota IQ as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the Toyota IQ as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the Toyota IQ as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota IQ?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score