1989 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 468 MOT tests, the 1989 Toyota Supra recorded an 81.4% pass rate. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 17.5% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and lighting & signalling (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 32 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.6% in the 30-60k band and 29.8% in the 150k+ band, a 19.1-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 35 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 35 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 32 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 25 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 32 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 3 | Washers | 19 |
| 4 | Wipers | 17 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 16 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
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 | 22.4% | 105 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.2% | 104 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.4% | 91 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 57 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.8% | 46 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 39 |
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 | 47 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 128 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 110 | 22.7% |
| 150k+ | 84 | 29.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 90 | 14.4% |
| 2023 | 82 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 88 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 98 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Supra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.8% 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.
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 1989 Toyota Supras pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 468 1989 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Toyota Supra?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.5%).
Does the 1989 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 30-60k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 468 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.