Toyota Starlet (1993)
1993 Toyota Starlet
CarHunch analysed 758 real MOT records for the 1993 Toyota Starlet. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1993 Toyota Starlet has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.3%, which is 10.7 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that reflects the age and condition issues common in 30-year-old cars. With 18.3% of vehicles having recorded a dangerous defect at some point, these Starlets demand serious pre-purchase inspection, as safety issues are more prevalent than typical.
At a median mileage of 91,786 miles for a car now three decades old, these examples have generally been driven sensibly, yet they still average 2.55 failures and 8.1 advisories per test—suggesting wear in core systems like brakes, suspension, and engine seals is the norm rather than the exception. If you're considering one, budget for immediate work on common MOT failures and get a detailed pre-purchase inspection from a Toyota-specialist mechanic, not just a general forecourt check.
What to check before buying a 1993 Toyota Starlet
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 Starlet
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%) | 749 | 69.5% | 2.56 |
| Diesel (1%) | 9 | 52% | 2.11 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1993 Toyota Starlet 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.
Half of all 1993 Toyota Starlet vehicles fall between 72,901 and 118,193 miles.
1993 Toyota Starlet — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 30 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (21% of peak).
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
Most Common MOT Issues — 1993 Toyota Starlet
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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39.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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39.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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27.8%
Oil leak
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25.4%
Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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24.2%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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23.9%
Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
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23.3%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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22.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Toyota Starlet?
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