Toyota chaser MOT pass rate & common failures
The Toyota chaser appears in 1,140 MOT tests spanning model years 1991–2024, and 92.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 20.3% of the time, so this is 12.9pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 3.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 41 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.0% in the 30-60k band and 7.2% in the 150k+ band, a 5.2-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every chaser model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 48 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 128 | 94.5% | 5.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 230 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 107 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 93 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 63 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 50 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2016 | 75 | 93.3% | 6.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 36 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 40 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 92 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 34 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 37 | 97.3% | 2.7% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 94 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.6% | 30 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.0% | 23 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.3% | 15 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 10 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 36 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 36 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 32 |
| 5 | Washers | 28 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 20 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 15 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 15.1% | 172 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 134 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 109 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 74 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 67 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 66 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 99 | 2.0% |
| 60-90k | 238 | 5.9% |
| 90-120k | 334 | 10.2% |
| 120-150k | 242 | 7.8% |
| 150k+ | 209 | 7.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 188 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 244 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 236 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 250 | 6.0% |
| 2025 | 222 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a Toyota chaser
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (2.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota chaser?
92.5% of the 1,140 Toyota chaser MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.5% fail rate, across model years 1991–2024.
What does the Toyota chaser most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, then visibility (3.2%).
How much does mileage affect chaser MOT results?
Fail rates run at 2.0% for cars in the 30-60k band and 7.2% for 150k+, a 5.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,140 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.