2004 Toyota Mr2 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Toyota Mr2 passed 76.1% of its 7,625 recorded MOT tests. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 1.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and parking brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 858 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.8% versus 8.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.4% | 1,174 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 738 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 512 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 501 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.3% | 251 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 231 |
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) | 858 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 442 |
| 3 | Parking brake performance | 360 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 321 |
| 5 | Wipers | 245 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 239 |
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 | 28.3% | 2,162 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 2,080 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.2% | 1,391 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 719 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 628 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 505 |
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 | 285 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,317 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,816 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 2,102 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 801 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 295 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,719 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 1,656 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 1,516 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 1,392 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 1,342 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Mr2
On a 2004 Mr2, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.4% 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 (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.7% 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 2004 Toyota Mr2s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 7,625 2004 Toyota Mr2 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Toyota Mr2?
Brakes, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 2004 Mr2 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,625 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.