1991 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Toyota Hilux passed 75.3% of its 595 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.0 percentage points worse than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 23.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests against 11.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, wipers and prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 Hilux fails 25.0% of the time in the 60-90k band and 25.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.7% 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 | 14.3% | 85 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 66 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 60 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 42 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 2 | Wipers | 41 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 26 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 25 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
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 | 28.7% | 171 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.4% | 169 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.2% | 150 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 98 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.1% | 96 |
| 6 | Steering | 12.3% | 73 |
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 | 100 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 147 | 21.8% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 26.4% |
| 150k+ | 250 | 25.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 385 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 210 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 131 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 110 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 98 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 117 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Hilux
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 (11.1% 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 (10.1% 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 1991 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
75.3% of the 595 1991 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.1%).
Does the 1991 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 60-90k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 595 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.