2002 Toyota Supra — MOT failures & pass rate
307 MOT tests on the 2002 Toyota Supra are in this dataset, and 85.0% of them passed. That is 7.6 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 22.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.8% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 25 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 15.0% versus 23.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 20.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.9% in 2021 to 7.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 33 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 21 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 16 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 10 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.9% | 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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 7 |
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 | 20.2% | 62 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 52 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.3% | 44 |
| 4 | Tyres | 13.7% | 42 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 41 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 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 | 51 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 87 | 8.1% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 16.7% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 70 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 69 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 45 | 11.1% |
| 2025 | 40 | 7.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Supra
On a 2002 Supra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (6.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (5.2% 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 2002 Toyota Supras pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 307 2002 Toyota Supra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Supra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (6.8%).
Does the 2002 Supra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 15.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 307 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.