2010 Toyota Previa — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 288 MOT tests, the 2010 Toyota Previa recorded a 70.8% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.2% of the time, so this is 4.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.9% of tests against 10.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — headlamp alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.2% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 46.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.9% in 2021 to 22.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.9% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 31 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.1% | 29 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 19 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 32 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 23 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 5 | Wipers | 17 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 16 |
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 | 46.2% | 133 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.6% | 91 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.2% | 84 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 27.8% | 80 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 26.4% | 76 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 31 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 33 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 150 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 65 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 57 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 38 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 31 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Previa
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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 (10.1% 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 2010 Toyota Previas pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 288 2010 Toyota Previa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Toyota Previa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.8%).
Does the 2010 Previa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.2% in the 60-90k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 288 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.