1993 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 753 MOT tests, the 1993 Toyota Hilux recorded a 76.8% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 1993 Hilux comes out 1.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, chassis condition and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 37 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 24.4% versus 20.0%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.3% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 109 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 75 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.7% | 58 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 36 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 28 |
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 | Chassis condition | 35 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 34 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 34 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 33 |
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 | 29.5% | 222 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.1% | 212 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.5% | 177 |
| 4 | Tyres | 17.3% | 130 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 84 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 78 |
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 | 45 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 92 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 124 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 357 | 24.4% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 657 | 23.3% |
| Petrol | 96 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 186 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 159 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 130 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 141 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 137 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Hilux
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.0% 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+.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 1993 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 753 1993 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.0%).
Does the 1993 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 753 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.