1998 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,665 MOT tests on the 1998 Toyota Mr2 are in this dataset, and 73.5% of them passed. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 1998 Mr2 comes out 4.9pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.5%) and emissions & environmental (11.6%) 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 service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 446 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.5% versus 16.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.8% in 2021 to 25.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.5% | 333 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 308 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 281 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.6% | 228 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 126 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 108 |
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 | 446 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 198 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 169 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 164 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 115 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 93 |
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 | 21.5% | 572 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.7% | 551 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.0% | 400 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 352 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 301 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.1% | 163 |
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 | 67 | 16.4% |
| 30-60k | 226 | 16.8% |
| 60-90k | 473 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 871 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 633 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 393 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 649 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 570 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 539 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 473 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 434 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Mr2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Emissions & environmental (11.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% 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 1998 Toyota Mr2s pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 2,665 1998 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Toyota Mr2?
Brakes, recorded in 12.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.6%).
Does the 1998 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,665 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.