2014 Toyota Aygo: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Toyota Aygo?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Toyota Aygo than on all cars registered in 2014.

• Anti-roll bar link bushes26.3× usual
  Toyota Aygo

  10.5% All 2014 cars

  0.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

  At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

• Braking performance1.9× usual
  Toyota Aygo

  7.3% All 2014 cars

  3.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

  At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

• Rigid brake pipes2× usual
  Toyota Aygo

  6.1% All 2014 cars

  3.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

• Sub-frame2.7× usual
  Toyota Aygo

  4.3% All 2014 cars

  1.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Wheel bearings2.7× usual
  Toyota Aygo

  2.7% All 2014 cars

  1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Common 2014 Toyota Aygo MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Toyota Aygo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  30% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  29% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Suspension
  22% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  17% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  7% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Exhaust and emissions
  4% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Known faults on the 2014 Toyota Aygo

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Steering column recall (very early cars)

  Built Sept to Oct 2014

  A small batch of cars built in September and October 2014 was recalled because the steering column could collapse.

  At the viewing: If the car was built in late 2014, ask a dealer to check the VIN for the recall.

  Source: Auto Express: used Peugeot 108 review

• Clunky x-shift automatic

  x-shift automatic

  The optional 2-Tronic is an automated manual, not a true automatic. It can feel jerky and owners rate it poorly.

  At the viewing: Drive it in traffic and pull away several times. Make sure you can live with how it changes gear.

  Source: Auto Express: used Peugeot 108 review

• Engine turns over but won't start

  All engines

  Some owners report the engine cranking without firing. A tired battery is the usual cause.

  At the viewing: Start the car from cold yourself and watch for slow cranking.

  Source: Auto Express: used Peugeot 108 review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Toyota Aygo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has all the recall work been done?
2. Has the gearbox or clutch had any work?
3. How old is the battery?
4. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link bushes? (Flagged at MOT 26.3× as often on the 2014 Toyota Aygo as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the braking performance? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2014 Toyota Aygo as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2014 Toyota Aygo as on other cars the same age.)