2001 Toyota Land Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,842 MOT tests, the 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser recorded a 75.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large SUVs of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and suspension (12.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, position lamp and stop lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 378 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.9% once past 150k — 4.6× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.4% of the time against 24.6% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 923 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.7% | 867 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 764 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 569 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 247 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 175 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 378 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 327 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 310 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 294 |
| 5 | Chassis condition | 274 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 224 |
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 | 39.8% | 2,721 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.6% | 1,889 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.2% | 1,589 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.3% | 982 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.7% | 935 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 887 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 85 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 276 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 746 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,262 | 21.4% |
| 150k+ | 4,450 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,020 | 24.6% |
| Petrol | 801 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,605 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 1,462 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 1,340 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 1,275 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 1,160 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Land Cruiser
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.7% 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.
- Brakes (11.2% 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.
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 2001 Toyota Land Cruisers pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 6,842 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.7%).
Does the 2001 Land Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 30-60k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,842 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.