At a Glance
The Toyota Starlet P90 has 23 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Wiper blades deteriorated being the most reported. Electrical is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Wheel bearing worn, rated as dangerous. Based on 256K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Toyota Starlet P90 — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Toyota Starlet P90 MOT Pass Rate
Across 256K MOT tests from DVSA data, the Toyota Starlet P90 (1996–1999) has a fail rate of 33.7%.
All-time UK average fail rate: 34.9%
Common Toyota Starlet P90 Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Wiper blades deteriorated
17,986
occurrences
Driveshaft fault
13,554
occurrences
Stop lamp not working
12,997
occurrences
Brake performance below minimum
10,910
occurrences
Catalytic converter efficiency low
10,086
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Toyota Starlet P90 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Toyota Starlet P90 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Toyota Starlet P90, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
539 distinct problems · 429,928 total occurrences in current filter
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Other Toyota Starlet Generations
P60
1978–1984
0 problems
P70
1984–1989
0 problems
P80
1989–1996
1 problem
P90
1996–1999
31 problems
Current page
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Toyota Starlet P90 problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Toyota Starlet P90 (1996–1999), we have identified 23 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Wiper blades deteriorated". Electrical is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Toyota Starlet P90?
This generation has 256K MOT tests on record with a 33.7% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Toyota Starlet P90?
There are 167 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the P90 (1996–1999), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Toyota Starlet P90?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Toyota Starlet owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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