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Toyota Hi Lux Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Hi Lux car check

Is the Toyota Hi Lux reliable? We analysed 8,506 real MOT tests across 1,047 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,506 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.9%
Typical Mileage
133,994mi
Annual Mileage
6,751mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Toyota Hi Lux is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Hi Lux.

Toyota Hi Lux Number Plates

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

Toyota Hi Lux MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

78.5%
2014
73.7%
2012
81%
2011
75.9%
2010
79.7%
2009
69.9%
2008
69%
2007
70.7%
2006
69.2%
2005
69.7%
2004
68.8%
2003
66%
2002
64.5%
2001
63.5%
2000
70.1%
1999
68.5%
1998
77.9%
1997
75.1%
1996
69.4%
1995
68.7%
1994

Toyota Hi Lux Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 387
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 278
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 214
constant velocity joint gaiter split 171
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 167
Brake pipe excessively corroded 138
position lamp(s) not working 133
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine 132
Stop lamp not working 132
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 126

Toyota Hi Lux Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,689 mi/yr
Typical
6,751 mi/yr
Average
8,184 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,962 mi/yr

Toyota Hi Lux MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2014 363 78.5% 31,162 48,346 70,042
2012 171 73.7% 46,056 63,150 89,611
2011 58 81.0% 50,480 71,932 107,976
2010 54 75.9% 70,594 109,655 151,142
2009 148 79.7% 72,520 95,206 115,520
2008 123 69.9% 115,081 159,829 223,542
2007 200 69.0% 71,384 105,190 168,624
2006 509 70.7% 98,011 131,866 171,818
2005 840 69.2% 92,045 130,324 171,333
2004 1,131 69.7% 115,520 143,962 177,281
2003 921 68.8% 99,482 132,936 162,256
2002 353 66.0% 105,839 129,091 155,601
2001 121 64.5% 107,516 147,429 191,892
2000 85 63.5% 100,043 132,330 173,749
1999 177 70.1% 121,649 139,506 182,458
1998 127 68.5% 141,721 159,013 172,044
1997 122 77.9% 104,897 139,369 203,328
1996 449 75.1% 118,638 146,504 184,466
1995 310 69.4% 98,616 144,828 186,447
1994 460 68.7% 106,916 151,592 201,705

How Long Does a Toyota Hi Lux Last?

Based on 1,047 Toyota Hi Lux vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.1 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Toyota Hi Lux Mileage Distribution

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

Median
133,994 mi
75th Percentile
170,938 mi
95th Percentile
240,718 mi
Max Recorded
421,979 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Hi Lux

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

Best year
2011

81.0% MOT pass rate from 58 tests

Year to avoid
1991

63.3% MOT pass rate from 286 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Hi Lux is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.0% across 58 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Hi Lux Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Hi Lux THIS CAR 69.9% 8,506 133,994 mi 36 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
Lotus Elite 78.2% 2,929 54,073 mi 66 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Toyota Hi Lux?

The Toyota Hi Lux has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.9% across 8,506 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Hi Lux are fog lamp not working (387 recorded failures), exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (278), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (214). 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 Lux owner drives around 6,751 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 Lux models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 Lux — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Hi Lux reliable?
Based on 8,506 MOT tests, the Toyota Hi Lux has a 69.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Hi Lux?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Hi Lux do per year?
The typical Toyota Hi Lux does around 6,751 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Hi Lux last?
Most Toyota Hi Lux models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 1,047 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Hi Lux?
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 Lux?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Hi Lux is 2011 with a 81.0% pass rate across 58 tests.