1994 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
429 MOT tests on the 1994 Toyota Supra are in this dataset, and 87.4% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 19.5% of the time, so this is 6.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests against 3.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 21 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1994 Supra fails 10.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 11.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 13.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.9% in 2021 to 10.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 32 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.7% | 16 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.1% | 9 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 9 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.5% | 58 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 58 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 56 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 45 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 34 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.9% | 34 |
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 | 39 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 98 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 121 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 14.0% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 80 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 76 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 98 | 15.3% |
| 2025 | 103 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Supra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Visibility (3.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (3.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1994 Toyota Supras pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 429 1994 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.7%).
Does the 1994 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 30-60k band to 11.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 429 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.