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Toyota Celica (1989)

863 real MOT outcomes analysed • 52.2% first-time pass rate

1989 Toyota Celica

CarHunch analysed 863 real MOT records for the 1989 Toyota Celica. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 27.8% below UK average
52.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
118,129
typical mileage
92,681–143,692 middle half
10%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.25
avg MOT failures per car
over 3.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Toyota Celica

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Toyota Celica

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 857 52.3% 1.26
Diesel (0%) 2 0% 0
Gas (0%) 2 0% 0
Other (0%) 2 83.3% 0.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Toyota Celica vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

92,681
low mileage
118,129
typical
143,692
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Toyota Celica vehicles fall between 92,681 and 143,692 miles.

1989 Toyota Celica — Still on the Road

28 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% of the peak remain.

46 28 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

3.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.25
Avg failures per vehicle
3.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Toyota Celica

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 70.2%
    Oil leak
  • 25.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 25.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.3%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 15.9%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 14.8%
    Fuel pipe/s corroded
  • 14.4%
    Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Toyota Celica?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Toyota Celica:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006