2003 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Toyota Mr2 passed 75.4% of its 8,139 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests against 9.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and parking brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 880 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.7% in 2021 to 22.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.3% | 1,247 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 782 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.0% | 647 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 598 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 304 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 255 |
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) | 880 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 583 |
| 3 | Parking brake performance | 423 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 342 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 283 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 274 |
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 | 27.0% | 2,199 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.3% | 2,140 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.9% | 1,460 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 1,016 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 801 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 526 |
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 | 241 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,256 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,649 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,509 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,134 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 345 | 26.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,915 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 1,750 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 1,611 | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 1,491 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 1,372 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Mr2
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.3% 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 (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 2003 Toyota Mr2s pass their MOT?
75.4% of the 8,139 2003 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Toyota Mr2?
Brakes, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2003 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,139 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.