1991 Toyota Land Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
346 MOT tests on the 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser are in this dataset, and 81.2% of them passed. Large SUVs of a similar age fail 23.6% of the time, so this is 4.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.3%) and brakes (10.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are prescribed areas, headlamp aim and wheel bearings — prescribed areas alone was recorded 18 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 39 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 24 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 14 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 3 | Wheel bearings | 15 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 13 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 13 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 12 |
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 | 35.3% | 122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.8% | 79 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.0% | 76 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Steering | 14.2% | 49 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 36 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 120-150k | 56 | 10.7% |
| 150k+ | 266 | 21.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 72 | 15.3% |
| 2023 | 63 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 71 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 65 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Land Cruiser
On a 1991 Land Cruiser, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.4% 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.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 1991 Toyota Land Cruisers pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 346 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by brakes (10.4%).
Does the 1991 Land Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 120-150k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 346 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.