2012 Toyota Hi=Ace — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 426 MOT tests, the 2012 Toyota Hi=Ace recorded an 80.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.4% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and position lamp — wipers alone was recorded 31 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.3% in the 30-60k band and 26.5% in the 150k+ band, a 15.1-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.6% in 2021 to 14.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 61 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 31 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.6% | 24 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.5% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 5 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 16 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.1% | 107 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 105 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.6% | 75 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 50 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 41 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 31 |
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 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 82 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 77 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 121 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 326 | 19.6% |
| Petrol | 100 | 21.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 88 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 90 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 78 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 68 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Hi=Ace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (5.6% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Toyota Hi=Aces pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 426 2012 Toyota Hi=Ace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Hi=Ace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (7.3%).
Does the 2012 Hi=Ace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 30-60k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 426 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.