2018 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 31,357 MOT tests, the 2018 Toyota Hilux recorded an 87.4% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points better than pick-up trucks of a similar age, which fail at 14.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.7%) and brakes (5.9%) 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 1,221 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.3% versus 8.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 2,411 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 1,857 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 1,276 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 791 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.3% | 731 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 314 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,221 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 935 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 772 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 704 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 452 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 433 |
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 | 15.2% | 4,757 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 3,814 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 1,524 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 1,294 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.1% | 1,290 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 736 |
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 | 5,399 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 11,926 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,010 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 3,687 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,507 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 826 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,324 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 6,407 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 6,339 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 6,180 | 13.4% |
| 2025 | 6,107 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Hilux
On a 2018 Hilux, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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 (4.1% 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 2018 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 31,357 2018 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2018 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,357 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.