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Toyota Crown Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Crown car check

Is the Toyota Crown reliable? We analysed 3,279 real MOT tests across 702 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,279 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.0%
Typical Mileage
119,248mi
Annual Mileage
1,827mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
54yrs

The Toyota Crown is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Crown.

Toyota Crown Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Toyota Crown. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Toyota Crown MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Toyota Crown to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.4%
2020
92.2%
2019
81.3%
2018
83.9%
2017
83.8%
2016
86.3%
2014
86.3%
2011
89.7%
2010
90.8%
2009
87.5%
2008
81.7%
2007
77.5%
2006
78.4%
2005
79.2%
2004
91.9%
2003
88.8%
2002
85.4%
2001
86.8%
2000
80.4%
1999
83%
1992

Toyota Crown Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Toyota Crown fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 35
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 28
brake binding 24
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 21
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 20
fog lamp not working 19
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 18
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 17

Toyota Crown Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Toyota Crown models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 23

Toyota Crown Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Toyota Crown owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
388 mi/yr
Typical
1,827 mi/yr
Average
4,002 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,540 mi/yr

Toyota Crown MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Crown year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 125 86.4% 85,134 124,734 157,838
2019 90 92.2% 105,757 142,350 162,415
2018 64 81.3% 63,646 109,092 145,718
2017 62 83.9% 80,280 127,990 153,669
2016 68 83.8% 74,522 161,180 206,337
2014 51 86.3% 61,566 98,816 113,156
2011 51 86.3% 66,506 117,690 140,289
2010 68 89.7% 89,765 98,855 134,154
2009 76 90.8% 93,688 133,362 160,619
2008 152 87.5% 89,341 129,461 162,712
2007 109 81.7% 132,631 155,390 184,742
2006 169 77.5% 104,094 126,302 152,316
2005 88 78.4% 91,111 139,104 155,678
2004 101 79.2% 91,410 125,353 147,187
2003 124 91.9% 118,626 152,679 186,836
2002 215 88.8% 103,486 152,237 188,996
2001 178 85.4% 135,650 170,980 218,739
2000 152 86.8% 107,996 149,336 168,760
1999 102 80.4% 82,660 128,124 168,869
1992 53 83.0% 80,583 131,904 187,939

How Long Does a Toyota Crown Last?

Based on 702 Toyota Crown vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.8 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
54 years

Toyota Crown Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Crown MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
119,248 mi
75th Percentile
159,145 mi
95th Percentile
224,595 mi
Max Recorded
511,851 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Crown

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

92.2% MOT pass rate from 90 tests

Year to avoid
1980

71.3% MOT pass rate from 80 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Crown is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.2% across 90 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Crown Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Crown THIS CAR 83.0% 3,279 119,248 mi 54 yrs
Toyota Yaris 77.7% 9,038,234 54,896 mi 27 yrs
Toyota Corolla 75.4% 4,239,724 75,409 mi 36 yrs
Toyota Avensis 75% 3,497,866 89,776 mi 28 yrs
Vauxhall Grandland X SE Turbo Auto 89.5% 1,592 26,798 mi — yrs

Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Crown outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Toyota Crown?

The Toyota Crown has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.0% across 3,279 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Toyota Crown are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (35 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (28), and brake binding (24). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Toyota Crown with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Toyota Crown owner drives around 1,827 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Toyota Crown models stay on UK roads for around 54 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Toyota Crown — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Crown reliable?
Based on 3,279 MOT tests, the Toyota Crown has a 83.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Crown?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and brake binding. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Crown do per year?
The typical Toyota Crown does around 1,827 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Crown last?
Most Toyota Crown models stay on UK roads for around 54 years based on our analysis of 702 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Crown?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Toyota Crown?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Crown is 2019 with a 92.2% pass rate across 90 tests.