Toyota Supra MOT pass rate & common failures
The Toyota Supra appears in 8,254 MOT tests spanning model years 1982–2022, and 86.6% of them passed. That is 6.8 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.2%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.0% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 313 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.6% in the 0-30k band and 18.4% in the 150k+ band, a 10.8-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 18.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.9% in 2021 to 11.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Supra model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 39 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Visibility |
| 1987 | 104 | 85.6% | 14.4% | Brakes |
| 1988 | 135 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 468 | 81.4% | 18.6% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 385 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 283 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 206 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 372 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 429 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 310 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 178 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 196 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 559 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 461 | 83.7% | 16.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 306 | 84.3% | 15.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 299 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 307 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 556 | 85.8% | 14.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 596 | 87.3% | 12.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 599 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 326 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 332 | 87.6% | 12.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 141 | 93.6% | 6.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 68 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 78 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 38 | 94.7% | 5.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 54 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 43 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Seat belts & restraints |
| 2015 | 101 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 62 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 61 | 83.6% | 16.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2018 | 32 | 93.8% | 6.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2019 | 33 | 93.9% | 6.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2022 | 40 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 659 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 356 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 312 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 296 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.6% | 296 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 181 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.1% | 170 |
| 8 | Other defects | 1.1% | 88 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 313 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 269 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 239 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 226 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 203 |
| 6 | Washers | 195 |
| 7 | Wipers | 192 |
| 8 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 145 |
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 | 18.5% | 1,525 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 1,378 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 1,098 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.1% | 1,080 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 773 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 569 |
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 | 237 | 7.6% |
| 30-60k | 890 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,003 | 10.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,345 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,446 | 16.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,304 | 18.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,884 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 1,727 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 1,623 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 1,505 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 1,515 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a Toyota Supra
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.8% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Supra?
86.6% of the 8,254 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.4% fail rate, across model years 1982–2022.
What does the Toyota Supra most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, then brakes (4.3%).
How much does mileage affect Supra MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 18.4% for 150k+, a 10.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,254 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.