2011 Toyota Previa — MOT failures & pass rate
265 MOT tests on the 2011 Toyota Previa are in this dataset, and 72.8% of them passed. That is 3.4 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 22.3% of all tests — 11.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 32 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.9% versus 18.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.7% in 2021 to 22.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.3% | 59 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 29 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 27 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 26 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 20 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Wipers | 14 |
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 | 34.7% | 92 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.5% | 86 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 30.6% | 81 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.1% | 56 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 53 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.4% | 33 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 33 | 18.2% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 68 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 48 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 39 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 35 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Previa
On a 2011 Previa, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 22.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (22.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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.
- Brakes (10.2% 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.
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 2011 Toyota Previas pass their MOT?
72.8% of the 265 2011 Toyota Previa MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Previa?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2011 Previa get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 30-60k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 265 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.