1993 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Toyota Supra passed 86.8% of its 372 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.1 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 19.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.0% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 20.4% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.9% in 2021 to 12.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 37 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.8% | 14 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 13 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 12 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.9% | 7 |
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 | 15 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 12 |
| 3 | Washers | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 8 |
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 | 17.2% | 64 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 47 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.1% | 45 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 43 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 27 |
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 | 30 | 6.7% |
| 60-90k | 87 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 10.3% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 13.8% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 46 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 101 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 106 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Supra
On a 1993 Supra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.8% 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.
- Visibility (3.5% 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
How many 1993 Toyota Supras pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 372 1993 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by brakes (3.8%).
Does the 1993 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 30-60k band to 20.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 372 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.