2012 Toyota Hiace — MOT failures & pass rate
396 MOT tests on the 2012 Toyota Hiace are in this dataset, and 82.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 21.6% of the time, so this is 3.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 26 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.6% versus 8.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.9% in 2021 to 18.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 52 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.8% | 27 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.1% | 20 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 15 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 12 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.5% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 26 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 12 |
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 | 26.5% | 105 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.7% | 78 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.6% | 58 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 35 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 34 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 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 | 37 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 76 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 102 | 19.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 303 | 18.8% |
| Petrol | 93 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 20.9% |
| 2022 | 83 | 18.1% |
| 2023 | 80 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 72 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 75 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Hiace
On a 2012 Hiace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.8% 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 (5.1% 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
How many 2012 Toyota Hiaces pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 396 2012 Toyota Hiace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Hiace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by visibility (6.8%).
Does the 2012 Hiace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 30-60k band to 19.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 396 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.