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Toyota Hi Lux Surf Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Hi Lux Surf car check

Is the Toyota Hi Lux Surf reliable? We analysed 3,996 real MOT tests across 313 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,996 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.7%
Typical Mileage
147,316mi
Annual Mileage
7,091mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
35yrs

The Toyota Hi Lux Surf 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 Surf.

Toyota Hi Lux Surf Number Plates

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

Toyota Hi Lux Surf MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

70.9%
2007
71.3%
2006
71%
2005
69.8%
2004
65.7%
2003
75.6%
2002
72%
2001
78.4%
1997
75.2%
1996
72.6%
1995
69%
1994
65.8%
1993
68%
1992
61.6%
1991

Toyota Hi Lux Surf Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 198
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 134
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 110
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 91
constant velocity joint gaiter split 76
position lamp(s) not working 65
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine 65
wheel bearing has excessive play 62
Stop lamp not working 56
Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush 55

Toyota Hi Lux Surf Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,772 mi/yr
Typical
7,091 mi/yr
Average
8,274 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,930 mi/yr

Toyota Hi Lux Surf MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 179 70.9% 133,144 168,957 213,602
2006 247 71.3% 108,120 142,494 184,985
2005 545 71.0% 117,415 150,581 184,889
2004 718 69.8% 122,154 152,574 200,297
2003 654 65.7% 105,029 138,262 180,050
2002 164 75.6% 113,170 150,340 179,484
2001 50 72.0% 114,971 135,078 151,199
1997 97 78.4% 92,400 146,713 199,174
1996 250 75.2% 109,685 151,826 196,569
1995 124 72.6% 112,818 151,494 194,981
1994 197 69.0% 109,999 138,483 168,105
1993 333 65.8% 112,538 144,443 177,836
1992 150 68.0% 126,600 147,054 174,932
1991 86 61.6% 133,390 154,994 172,118

How Long Does a Toyota Hi Lux Surf Last?

Based on 313 Toyota Hi Lux Surf vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.2 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
35 years

Toyota Hi Lux Surf Mileage Distribution

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

Median
147,316 mi
75th Percentile
184,312 mi
95th Percentile
251,257 mi
Max Recorded
787,743 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Hi Lux Surf

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

Best year
1997

78.4% MOT pass rate from 97 tests

Year to avoid
1991

61.6% MOT pass rate from 86 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Hi Lux Surf is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.4% across 97 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.6% — 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 Surf 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 Surf THIS CAR 69.7% 3,996 147,316 mi 35 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
Land Rover R Rover Velar Rdyn Hse Dmhev A 88.5% 2,296 31,732 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Toyota Hi Lux Surf?

The Toyota Hi Lux Surf has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.7% across 3,996 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Hi Lux Surf are fog lamp not working (198 recorded failures), exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (134), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (110). 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 Surf owner drives around 7,091 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 Surf models stay on UK roads for around 35 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 Surf — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Hi Lux Surf reliable?
Based on 3,996 MOT tests, the Toyota Hi Lux Surf has a 69.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Hi Lux Surf?
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 Surf do per year?
The typical Toyota Hi Lux Surf does around 7,091 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Hi Lux Surf last?
Most Toyota Hi Lux Surf models stay on UK roads for around 35 years based on our analysis of 313 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Hi Lux Surf?
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 Surf?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Hi Lux Surf is 1997 with a 78.4% pass rate across 97 tests.