2018 Toyota Proace — MOT failures & pass rate
12,225 MOT tests on the 2018 Toyota Proace are in this dataset, and 84.9% of them passed. That is 1.0 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 16.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.1% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, registration plate lamp(s) and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 723 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.3% versus 8.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 1,475 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.7% | 701 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.9% | 599 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.6% | 562 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 277 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 260 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 723 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 586 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 458 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 393 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 384 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 305 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.1% | 2,460 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.8% | 2,415 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 914 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 767 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.1% | 741 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.8% | 710 |
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 | 1,517 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,584 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,403 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,828 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 647 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 244 | 19.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,588 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 2,533 | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 2,457 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 2,338 | 15.2% |
| 2025 | 2,309 | 16.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Proace
On a 2018 Proace, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 2018 Toyota Proaces pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 12,225 2018 Toyota Proace MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Proace?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by visibility (5.7%).
Does the 2018 Proace get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 19.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,225 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.