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Toyota Hi Ace Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Hi Ace car check

Is the Toyota Hi Ace reliable? We analysed 3,282 real MOT tests across 216 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,282 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.5%
Typical Mileage
128,768mi
Annual Mileage
5,357mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

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

Toyota Hi Ace Number Plates

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

Toyota Hi Ace MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

66.4%
2014
72.5%
2011
70.5%
2010
71.2%
2009
72.9%
2008
72.5%
2007
72.8%
2006
81.3%
2005
69%
2004
72.3%
2003
79.3%
2002
83.5%
2001
68.5%
2000
70.2%
1999
68.1%
1998
66.4%
1997
79.5%
1992

Toyota Hi Ace Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 99
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 98
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 76
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 66
position lamp(s) not working 55
Stop lamp not working 43
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 40
Registration plate lamp not working 38
Brake pipe excessively corroded 31
Brake hose excessively deteriorated 27

Toyota Hi Ace Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,633 mi/yr
Typical
5,357 mi/yr
Average
7,530 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,674 mi/yr

Toyota Hi Ace MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 119 66.4% 62,839 106,275 126,104
2011 69 72.5% 98,854 122,170 161,339
2010 183 70.5% 68,896 105,785 146,460
2009 156 71.2% 67,084 108,297 168,533
2008 292 72.9% 92,301 130,623 167,322
2007 473 72.5% 111,593 148,732 199,143
2006 232 72.8% 111,308 156,303 190,218
2005 80 81.3% 91,191 135,506 178,715
2004 158 69.0% 58,174 91,906 146,313
2003 148 72.3% 102,452 133,673 170,946
2002 121 79.3% 61,937 87,859 118,351
2001 109 83.5% 61,440 112,378 131,085
2000 168 68.5% 97,728 125,478 158,203
1999 57 70.2% 77,559 105,188 150,501
1998 119 68.1% 105,227 130,913 180,652
1997 446 66.4% 117,332 153,166 213,423
1992 73 79.5% 45,273 72,845 119,505

How Long Does a Toyota Hi Ace Last?

Based on 216 Toyota Hi Ace vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.2 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Toyota Hi Ace Mileage Distribution

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

Median
128,768 mi
75th Percentile
172,598 mi
95th Percentile
248,735 mi
Max Recorded
656,258 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Hi Ace

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

Best year
2001

83.5% MOT pass rate from 109 tests

Year to avoid
1997

66.4% MOT pass rate from 446 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Hi Ace is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.5% across 109 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Hi Ace Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Hi Ace THIS CAR 71.5% 3,282 128,768 mi 34 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
Harley-davidson Flsb Sport Glide 1745 20 94.2% 1,248 7,830 mi — yrs

Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Hi Ace trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Toyota Hi Ace you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Toyota Hi Ace?

The Toyota Hi Ace has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.5% across 3,282 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Hi Ace are fog lamp not working (99 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (98), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (76). 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.

A typical Toyota Hi Ace owner drives around 5,357 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 Hi Ace models stay on UK roads for around 34 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 Hi Ace — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Hi Ace reliable?
Based on 3,282 MOT tests, the Toyota Hi Ace has a 71.5% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Hi Ace?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Hi Ace do per year?
The typical Toyota Hi Ace does around 5,357 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Hi Ace last?
Most Toyota Hi Ace models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 216 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Hi Ace?
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 Hi Ace?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Hi Ace is 2001 with a 83.5% pass rate across 109 tests.