Does the Toyota Starlet fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The Toyota Starlet records 1.93 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.25 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.32, 95% interval −2.56 to −2.08). It ranks 613 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Toyota Starlet by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Toyota Starlet is “The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired”, recorded 312 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 312 | 1.12 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 74 | 0.27 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 32 | 0.11 |
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 seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
4.1% of Toyota Starlet MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 1,929 miles later (533 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 533 (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 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Toyota Starlet steering failures · Toyota Starlet suspension failures · Toyota Starlet tyres failures · Toyota Starlet visibility failures