2012 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Toyota Hilux passed 75.5% of its 25,654 recorded MOT tests. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 24.5%, so the 2012 Hilux sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.1%) and brakes (12.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and coil spring — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 2,078 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 3,616 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 3,268 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.3% | 2,892 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 1,589 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,121 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 737 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,078 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,650 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,248 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,213 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,115 |
| 6 | Wipers | 933 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.2% | 7,498 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.5% | 5,005 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 4,250 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.1% | 4,131 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 3,340 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 2,123 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 481 | 16.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,592 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 6,494 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 7,398 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,740 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,945 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,483 | 22.3% |
| 2022 | 5,390 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 5,168 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 4,960 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 4,653 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Hilux
On a 2012 Hilux, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.7% 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.
- Suspension (11.3% 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 Hiluxs pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 25,654 2012 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.7%).
Does the 2012 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,654 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.