1988 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 465 MOT tests, the 1988 Toyota Hilux recorded a 75.9% pass rate. That is 2.5 percentage points worse than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests against 12.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, service brake performance and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 30 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1988 Hilux fails 28.3% of the time in the 60-90k band and 26.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Body, structure & corrosion is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 83 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.9% | 60 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 48 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 26 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 30 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 24 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.7% | 124 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.2% | 122 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.0% | 121 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.3% | 62 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.5% | 58 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 55 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 53 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 18.5% |
| 150k+ | 215 | 26.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 260 | 25.0% |
| Petrol | 205 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 100 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 98 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 86 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 87 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 1988 Hilux
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1988 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 465 1988 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by brakes (12.9%).
Does the 1988 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.3% in the 60-90k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 465 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.