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Toyota Hiace Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Hiace car check

Is the Toyota Hiace reliable? We analysed 336,612 real MOT tests across 26,029 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 336,612 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.3%
Typical Mileage
116,940mi
Annual Mileage
6,628mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

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

Toyota Hiace Number Plates

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

Toyota Hiace MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

84.9%
2023
74.7%
2021
76.9%
2020
74.5%
2019
82.5%
2018
78.3%
2017
76.2%
2016
75.7%
2015
76.4%
2014
74%
2013
76.6%
2012
78%
2011
75.7%
2010
77.4%
2009
76.3%
2008
76.1%
2007
75.3%
2006
75.4%
2005
74.4%
2004
73.9%
2003

Toyota Hiace Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 8,788
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,062
position lamp(s) not working 7,572
Brake pipe excessively corroded 7,329
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush 6,444
Stop lamp not working 6,395
Registration plate lamp not working 6,320
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 3,567
Registration plate lamp not working 3,143
Headlamp aim too low 2,922

Toyota Hiace Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,569 mi/yr
Typical
6,628 mi/yr
Average
8,426 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,911 mi/yr

Toyota Hiace MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 53 84.9% 31,650 41,419 50,014
2021 95 74.7% 51,240 118,739 212,325
2020 78 76.9% 55,271 75,636 132,946
2019 102 74.5% 84,403 102,388 121,149
2018 206 82.5% 73,000 96,817 148,228
2017 382 78.3% 84,014 109,743 160,261
2016 504 76.2% 70,139 114,945 145,559
2015 781 75.7% 81,045 108,057 136,982
2014 499 76.4% 81,293 111,421 137,666
2013 643 74.0% 97,018 118,043 143,578
2012 991 76.6% 66,644 110,781 145,603
2011 2,579 78.0% 67,730 106,423 148,194
2010 4,076 75.7% 72,568 107,813 154,548
2009 4,192 77.4% 68,100 105,018 144,446
2008 10,040 76.3% 69,996 108,692 154,563
2007 12,417 76.1% 72,865 109,022 154,150
2006 29,615 75.3% 70,983 110,989 155,106
2005 31,731 75.4% 71,093 111,090 156,990
2004 35,108 74.4% 73,377 112,376 157,274
2003 36,948 73.9% 74,693 113,741 157,167

How Long Does a Toyota Hiace Last?

Based on 26,029 Toyota Hiace vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.5 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Toyota Hiace Mileage Distribution

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

Median
116,940 mi
75th Percentile
157,835 mi
95th Percentile
228,617 mi
Max Recorded
2,442,620 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Hiace

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

Best year
2023

84.9% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

Year to avoid
1977

62.6% MOT pass rate from 179 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Hiace is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.9% across 53 tests. The 1977 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Hiace Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Hiace THIS CAR 73.3% 336,612 116,940 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
Mazda Bongo 67.3% 251,584 130,222 mi 31 yrs

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

Found a Toyota Hiace 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 Hiace?

The Toyota Hiace has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.3% across 336,612 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Hiace are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8,788 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8,062), and position lamp(s) not working (7,572). 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 Hiace owner drives around 6,628 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 Hiace 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 Hiace — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Hiace reliable?
Based on 336,612 MOT tests, the Toyota Hiace has a 73.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Hiace?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Hiace do per year?
The typical Toyota Hiace does around 6,628 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Hiace last?
Most Toyota Hiace models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 26,029 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Hiace?
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 Hiace?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Hiace is 2023 with a 84.9% pass rate across 53 tests.