Toyota Hi/Lux MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 35 model years and 1,082 tests, the Toyota Hi/Lux passes its MOT 73.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 1.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.5% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rear fog lamp and service brake performance — position lamp alone was recorded 68 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 29.6% versus 21.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Hi/Lux model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 118 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 146 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 189 | 69.3% | 30.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 97 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 39 | 71.8% | 28.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 38 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 55 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 39 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 60 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 90 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 179 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 137 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.7% | 126 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 97 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 55 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 37 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 35 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.9% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 68 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 66 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 65 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 54 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 53 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 47 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 45 |
| 8 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
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 | 31.5% | 341 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.2% | 273 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.9% | 237 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.8% | 193 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.5% | 189 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.6% | 125 |
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 | 70 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 116 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 179 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 225 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 463 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,020 | 25.8% |
| Petrol | 62 | 38.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 269 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 232 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 223 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 196 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 162 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Hi/Lux
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.7% 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.
- Suspension (11.7% 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 Hi/Lux?
73.5% of the 1,082 Toyota Hi/Lux MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.5% fail rate, across model years 1987–2021.
What does the Toyota Hi/Lux most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, then brakes (12.7%).
How much does mileage affect Hi/Lux MOT results?
Fail rates run at 21.4% for cars in the 30-60k band and 29.6% for 150k+, a 8.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,082 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.