2017 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
29,419 MOT tests on the 2017 Toyota Hilux are in this dataset, and 86.5% of them passed. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (15.8% fail rate), the 2017 Hilux comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.6%) and brakes (6.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and registration plate lamp(s) — wipers alone was recorded 939 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.9% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 2,234 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 1,870 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 1,073 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.6% | 1,064 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.4% | 706 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 333 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 939 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 820 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 720 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 715 |
| 5 | Leaf spring | 515 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 479 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 15.9% | 4,665 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.6% | 4,011 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 2,051 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 1,551 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 1,361 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 822 |
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 | 2,938 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 9,725 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,567 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,767 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 2,078 | 18.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,339 | 19.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,228 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 5,950 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 5,810 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 5,781 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 5,650 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Hilux
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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.
- Visibility (3.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 29,419 2017 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.4%).
Does the 2017 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,419 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.