2020 Toyota Hilux — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Toyota Hilux passed 88.1% of its 16,895 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as pick-up trucks of a similar age (12.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.7%) and brakes (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and registration plate lamp(s) — headlamp aim alone was recorded 676 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.1% versus 9.2%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 12.5% 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% | 1,304 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 962 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 648 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.5% | 416 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 237 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 234 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 676 |
| 2 | Wipers | 653 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 379 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 304 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 218 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 195 |
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 | 15.3% | 2,579 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,914 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 764 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.5% | 751 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 669 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 310 |
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 | 4,665 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 7,182 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,531 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,116 | 14.6% |
| 120-150k | 309 | 12.3% |
| 150k+ | 92 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 134 | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 5,559 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 5,659 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 5,517 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Hilux
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.7% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (5.7% 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.
- Visibility (3.8% 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 2020 Toyota Hiluxs pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 16,895 2020 Toyota Hilux MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Toyota Hilux?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.7%).
Does the 2020 Hilux get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,895 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.