Does the Toyota Starlet fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Toyota Starlet records 11.11 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 9.87 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.24, 95% interval +0.85 to +1.63). It ranks 122 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Toyota Starlet by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Toyota Starlet is “Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer”, recorded 959 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 959 | 3.44 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 900 | 3.23 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 395 | 1.42 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 365 | 1.31 |
| An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels | 215 | 0.77 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 27,861 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Toyota Starlet gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
9.5% of Toyota Starlet MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 3,896 miles later (2,016 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,016 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Toyota Starlet 1998 · Toyota Starlet 1999 · Toyota Starlet in the Netherlands · Toyota Starlet by postcode area · Toyota Starlet body, chassis and structure failures · Toyota Starlet brakes failures · Toyota Starlet vehicle identification failures · Toyota Starlet lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Toyota Starlet seat belts and airbags failures · Toyota Starlet steering failures · Toyota Starlet suspension failures · Toyota Starlet tyres failures · Toyota Starlet visibility failures