Used car guide · 1979–2017

Toyota Starlet common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Toyota Starlet, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 8,894 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1990 Toyota Starlet

Too few Toyota Starlet cars first registered in 1990 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Toyota Starlet as a whole.

10on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolfuel type
What to check on a 1990 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

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).

201720071999199819971996199519941993199219911990198819871986198519841983198219811979

What usually goes wrong with a Toyota Starlet?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Toyota Starlet 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 Starlet MOT failures to check

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

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.

    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.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

    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.

  • Number plates

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1996, 1997 and 1999.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

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

  • Brakes pulling to one side

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1998 and 1999.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1998 and 1999.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Toyota Starlet MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200775%57% +18104 (small sample)
199967%63% +41,601
199863%65% -23,503
199764%65% -12,384
199666%66% +01,093
199563%67% -4100 (small sample)
199472%67% +5109 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Toyota Starlet

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

  1. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the Toyota Starlet as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the Toyota Starlet as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Toyota Starlet as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Starlet?

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