1994 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,245 MOT tests, the 1994 Toyota Mr2 recorded a 73.4% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 19.5% of the time, so this is 7.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (15.3%) and brakes (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 300 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.6% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.5% in 2021 to 24.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 190 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.5% | 156 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 118 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.8% | 97 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 52 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.6% | 45 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 300 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 76 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 74 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 62 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 53 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 46 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.4% | 291 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.4% | 279 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.9% | 198 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 161 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 140 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.8% | 110 |
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 | 107 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 286 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 393 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 295 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 146 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 269 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 252 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 223 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 242 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 259 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Mr2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (15.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (12.5% 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 (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1994 Toyota Mr2s pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 1,245 1994 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Toyota Mr2?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by brakes (12.5%).
Does the 1994 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 30-60k band to 22.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,245 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.