Used car guide

2020 Toyota Aygo: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Aygo first registered in 2020: we looked at the 49,415 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

49,415MOTs of 2020 cars, done in 2023–2025
90%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 87%)
4,800typical miles a year
1.5×the usual rate for brake discs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Toyota Aygo?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Toyota Aygo than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Brake discs1.5× usual
    Toyota Aygo
    11.4% All 2020 cars
    7.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.4% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Shock absorbers2.8× usual
    Toyota Aygo
    4.4% All 2020 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.3% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2020 Toyota Aygo MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Toyota Aygo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    22% 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
    14% 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
    7% 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
    6% 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
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2020 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.

  • 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 2020 Toyota Aygo

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

  1. Has the gearbox or clutch had any work?
  2. How old is the battery?
  3. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 1.5× as often on the 2020 Toyota Aygo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2020 Toyota Aygo as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Aygo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Aygo compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023347Tyres 7%
20221,911Tyres 17%
202133,968Tyres 20%
201965,565Tyres 25%
201864,964Tyres 31%
201763,572Tyres 31%
201665,800Tyres 31%
201568,671Tyres 30%
201457,420Tyres 30%
201345,166Brakes 30%
201244,125Brakes 37%
201138,154Brakes 39%
201035,096Brakes 42%
200937,632Brakes 44%
200833,723Brakes 46%
200727,685Suspension 46%
200622,941Lights and electrics 47%
20054,237Lights and electrics 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Aygo cars first registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score