2002 Toyota Land Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,240 MOT tests, the 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser recorded a 74.8% pass rate. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 25.3%, so the 2002 Land Cruiser sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and suspension (12.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 398 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.8% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (25.4% vs 23.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 1,009 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 931 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 853 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 645 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 264 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 208 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 398 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 343 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 328 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 307 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 284 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 276 |
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 | 42.5% | 3,077 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.1% | 2,031 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.8% | 1,722 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.0% | 1,087 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.8% | 1,072 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 829 |
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 | 102 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 357 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 882 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,538 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 4,341 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,650 | 25.4% |
| Petrol | 581 | 23.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,680 | 24.9% |
| 2022 | 1,651 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 1,434 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 1,294 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 1,181 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Land Cruiser
On a 2002 Land Cruiser, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% 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.
- Brakes (11.8% 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 2002 Toyota Land Cruisers pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 7,240 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Land Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.9%).
Does the 2002 Land Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,240 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.