1992 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Toyota Hilux passed 77.3% of its 581 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points better than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.8% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, service brake performance and prescribed areas — position lamp alone was recorded 37 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.1% in the 30-60k band and 22.9% in the 150k+ band, a 5.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 86 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 67 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 61 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.5% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 27 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 33 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 33 |
| 5 | Wipers | 30 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 25 |
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 | 32.0% | 186 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.4% | 165 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.2% | 164 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.7% | 103 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.1% | 82 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.7% | 68 |
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 | 41 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 24.3% |
| 120-150k | 106 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 218 | 22.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 404 | 24.8% |
| Petrol | 177 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 138 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 108 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 109 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 97 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 129 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Hilux
On a 1992 Hilux, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% 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 (10.5% 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 1992 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 581 1992 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by brakes (11.5%).
Does the 1992 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.1% in the 30-60k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 581 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.