2000 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Toyota Mr2 passed 73.2% of its 6,256 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.5 percentage points worse than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.4%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 17.2% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and parking brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 827 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.0% versus 13.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 31.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.5% in 2021 to 26.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.2% | 1,077 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 668 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 647 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 509 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 238 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 188 |
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 | 827 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 771 |
| 3 | Parking brake performance | 423 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 320 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 259 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 231 |
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 | 31.0% | 1,939 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.7% | 1,546 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.0% | 1,063 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 839 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 593 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 473 |
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 | 127 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 707 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,895 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,960 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,133 | 29.6% |
| 150k+ | 425 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,457 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 1,386 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 1,265 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 1,101 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 1,047 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Mr2
On a 2000 Mr2, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (17.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (10.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2000 Toyota Mr2s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 6,256 2000 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Toyota Mr2?
Brakes, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2000 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,256 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.