1990 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Toyota Mr2 passed 76.2% of its 1,452 recorded MOT tests. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (18.1% fail rate), the 1990 Mr2 comes out 5.6pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 10.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 123 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.4% in the 0-30k band and 27.3% in the 150k+ band, a 15.8-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.0% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.5% | 210 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 159 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.1% | 146 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 81 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 67 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 123 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 119 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 90 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 71 |
| 5 | Parking brake performance | 60 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 52 |
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 | 30.8% | 447 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 21.3% | 310 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.2% | 308 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 230 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.3% | 222 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.0% | 102 |
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 | 35 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 118 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 304 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 420 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 341 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 231 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 282 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 294 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 285 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 301 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 290 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Mr2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 1990 Toyota Mr2s pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 1,452 1990 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Toyota Mr2?
Brakes, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.9%).
Does the 1990 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,452 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.