Toyota Lucida MOT pass rate & common failures
The Toyota Lucida appears in 2,171 MOT tests spanning model years 1992–2015, and 71.7% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.4% fail rate), the Lucida comes out 2.0pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.0% of tests against 13.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 202 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 30.4% versus 25.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Lucida model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 31 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 46 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 58 | 65.5% | 34.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 34 | 82.3% | 17.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 30 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 33 | 63.6% | 36.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 60 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 173 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 308 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 300 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 372 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 239 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 133 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 87 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 76 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 45 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 455 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.8% | 299 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 264 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 217 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 169 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 144 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.4% | 117 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 43 |
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 | 202 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 178 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 177 |
| 4 | Wipers | 174 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 139 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 126 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 107 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 98 |
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 | 38.2% | 830 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 753 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.8% | 603 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.9% | 540 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.3% | 441 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 428 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 119 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 368 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 510 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,148 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,918 | 28.8% |
| Petrol | 253 | 24.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 702 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 538 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 418 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 293 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 220 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Lucida
- Lighting & signalling (21.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.8% 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 (12.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Lucida?
71.7% of the 2,171 Toyota Lucida MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 28.3% fail rate, across model years 1992–2015.
What does the Toyota Lucida most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.0% of tests, then suspension (13.8%).
How much does mileage affect Lucida MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.2% for cars in the 60-90k band and 30.4% for 150k+, a 5.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,171 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.