Toyota Highlander Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Highlander car check
Is the Toyota Highlander reliable? We analysed 1,208 real MOT tests across 313 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Highlander? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Highlander is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include position lamp(s) incorrect colour, fog lamp not working and headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Highlander.
Toyota Highlander Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Highlander. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Highlander MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Highlander to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Highlander Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Highlander fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Highlander Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Highlander owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Highlander MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Highlander year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 56 | 76.8% | 37,598 | 60,664 | 90,484 |
| 2015 | 66 | 71.2% | 38,069 | 61,810 | 91,690 |
| 2014 | 97 | 83.5% | 50,112 | 71,418 | 100,982 |
| 2012 | 60 | 80.0% | 33,030 | 47,984 | 78,094 |
| 2011 | 59 | 78.0% | 61,245 | 122,125 | 172,617 |
| 2010 | 97 | 69.1% | 56,520 | 89,614 | 129,529 |
| 2008 | 105 | 82.9% | 34,209 | 59,210 | 105,891 |
| 2006 | 82 | 82.9% | 44,210 | 93,222 | 138,469 |
| 2005 | 77 | 77.9% | 61,214 | 91,679 | 117,328 |
| 2004 | 92 | 68.5% | 46,559 | 70,325 | 99,637 |
| 2003 | 54 | 66.7% | 50,000 | 83,454 | 153,083 |
How Long Does a Toyota Highlander Last?
Based on 313 Toyota Highlander vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Highlander Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Highlander MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Highlander
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
83.5% MOT pass rate from 97 tests
66.7% MOT pass rate from 54 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Highlander is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.5% across 97 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Highlander Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander THIS CAR | 78.1% | 1,208 | 67,629 mi | 23 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 |
| Skoda Superb L And K IV PHEV S-a | 88.1% | 1,180 | 44,570 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Highlander outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Highlander 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.
Check a specific Toyota HighlanderShould you buy a used Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.1% across 1,208 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 Highlander are position lamp(s) incorrect colour (18 recorded failures), fog lamp not working (15), and headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (12). 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 Highlander owner drives around 8,388 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 Highlander models stay on UK roads for around 23 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.