Used car guide

1997 Toyota Starlet: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Starlet first registered in 1997: we looked at the 2,384 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,384MOTs of 1997 cars, done in 2023–2025
64%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 65%)
3,200typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1997 Toyota Starlet?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1997 Toyota Starlet than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Shock absorbers3.6× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    23.7% All 1997 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 1.6% of all 1997 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.

  • Wheel bearings2.4× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    16.1% All 1997 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.2% of all 1997 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    13.6% All 1997 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 1.9% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Tread depth1.8× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    18.6% All 1997 cars
    10.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.1% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Number plates2.1× usual
    Toyota Starlet
    11.1% All 1997 cars
    5.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.7% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Chassis rust or damage: 2.1% here, against 5.9% of all 1997 cars. Flexible brake hoses: 1.8% here, against 5.4% of all 1997 cars.

Common 1997 Toyota Starlet MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1997 Toyota Starlet MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% 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
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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
    26% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    18% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1997 Toyota Starlet

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

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the 1997 Toyota Starlet as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 1997 Toyota Starlet as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 1997 Toyota Starlet as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Starlet?

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 Starlet compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2017–Too few tests
2007104Lights and electrics 38%
19991,601Lights and electrics 34%
19983,503Suspension 38%
19961,093Suspension 34%
1995100Brakes 39%
1994109Brakes 33%
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests

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 Starlet cars first registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score