Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Toyota Yaris?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Toyota Yaris?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Toyota Yaris?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2016 Toyota Yaris reliable?

Based on MOT data from 29,361 vehicles, the 2016 Toyota Yaris has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Toyota Yaris?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Toyota Yaris are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (36.2% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (29.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Toyota Yaris?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Toyota Yaris (2016)

29,361 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.4% first-time pass rate

2016 Toyota Yaris

CarHunch analysed 29,361 real MOT records for the 2016 Toyota Yaris. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Toyota Yaris is noticeably more reliable than the UK average, with an 87.7% first-time pass rate against the national 80%, and petrol versions edge out the hybrid models at 88.3% versus 86.9%. Just under one in five owners have encountered a dangerous defect at some point, which warrants pre-purchase inspection.

These Yaris examples are running relatively light mileage for their age—averaging 36,879 miles—which suggests a mixed buyer base of commuters and light users. The average of just 1.03 failures per test combined with 6.7 advisories points to a mechanically sound car that mainly develops minor wear items; budget for routine maintenance but don't expect serious surprises. Before committing, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake and suspension components, where that 18.6% dangerous-defect rate clusters.

The 2016 Toyota Yaris passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (88.4%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

18.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.03

Over 7.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 23k–45k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 29,361 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 29,361 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 41.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 14.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Wipers & washers 12.6%

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Other issues 8.4%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 29,361 Toyota Yaris cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

88.9%

Petrol

18,086 vehicles

86.6%

Diesel

883 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 Toyota Yaris

Based on MOT data from 29,361 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (62%)	18,086	88.9%	1
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (35%)	10,384	87.8%	1.08
Diesel (3%)	883	86.6%	1.17

Colour Breakdown

Based on 625,609 Toyota Yaris vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26.3%

164,789

Red 20%

125,121

Blue 17.2%

107,296

Black 10.2%

63,916

Grey 10%

62,531

White 8.9%

55,382

Green 3.5%

21,882

Turquoise 1.2%

7,303

Bronze 1%

6,441

Gold 1%

5,961

Beige 0.7%

4,196

Orange 0.1%

791

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Toyota Yaris vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

32,697

typical

22,769

low mileage

44,643

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Toyota Yaris vehicles fall between 22,769 and 44,643 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 22,769 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 22,769–44,643 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Toyota Yariss sit.

⚠ Over 60,268 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Toyota Yaris — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Toyota Yariss are still on the road.

Strong survival — 27,866 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.03

Avg failures per vehicle

6.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Yaris: All Yaris years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Toyota →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Toyota Yaris stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?