2011 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 919 MOT tests, the 2011 Toyota Hiace recorded a 79.7% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the 2011 Hiace comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 7.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 45 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Hiace fails 20.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 131 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.7% | 71 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 62 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.0% | 46 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.0% | 37 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 36 |
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 | 45 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 3 | Wipers | 39 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 34 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 32 |
| 6 | Linkage pins and bushes | 27 |
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 | 25.7% | 236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 183 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.5% | 161 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 120 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 94 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.3% | 67 |
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 | 78 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 144 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 167 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 179 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 342 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 803 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 116 | 19.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 200 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 183 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 200 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 173 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 163 | 19.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Hiace
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
- Brakes (6.8% 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.
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 2011 Toyota Hiaces pass their MOT?
79.7% of the 919 2011 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.7%).
Does the 2011 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 30-60k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 919 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.