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Toyota Hilux Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Hilux car check

Is the Toyota Hilux reliable? We analysed 1,500,658 real MOT tests across 146,528 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,500,658 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.1%
Typical Mileage
94,890mi
Annual Mileage
7,298mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Toyota Hilux is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Hilux.

Toyota Hilux Number Plates

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

Toyota Hilux MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

81.3%
2022
78%
2021
83.7%
2020
83.6%
2019
83%
2018
83.6%
2017
80.1%
2016
78.2%
2015
77.8%
2014
76.8%
2013
75.9%
2012
74.1%
2011
73.8%
2010
73.7%
2009
73.4%
2008
73.5%
2007
72.5%
2006
71%
2005
70%
2004
70.1%
2003

Toyota Hilux Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 30,380
Brake pipe excessively corroded 30,017
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 25,129
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 22,123
position lamp(s) not working 22,068
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,852
Registration plate lamp not working 16,928
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 16,092
parking brake recording little or no effort 13,739

Toyota Hilux Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,034 mi/yr
Typical
7,298 mi/yr
Average
8,801 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,708 mi/yr

Toyota Hilux MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 187 81.3% 10,861 19,710 37,230
2021 1,623 78.0% 19,506 30,899 45,482
2020 20,816 83.7% 29,611 46,344 67,685
2019 29,884 83.6% 34,944 53,208 77,554
2018 39,124 83.0% 37,082 57,088 83,859
2017 44,789 83.6% 40,520 62,538 91,216
2016 45,665 80.1% 41,054 63,454 92,594
2015 67,972 78.2% 44,071 66,948 96,374
2014 69,069 77.8% 46,524 70,798 100,676
2013 68,840 76.8% 48,491 74,363 104,752
2012 73,367 75.9% 51,011 77,987 109,997
2011 81,167 74.1% 53,668 82,219 117,019
2010 61,251 73.8% 56,596 86,405 122,841
2009 50,276 73.7% 56,877 88,379 124,935
2008 64,998 73.4% 58,604 91,070 130,279
2007 71,952 73.5% 60,506 93,306 133,046
2006 51,622 72.5% 63,166 96,678 137,914
2005 57,215 71.0% 70,840 107,280 150,852
2004 78,749 70.0% 72,878 111,127 154,187
2003 69,188 70.1% 78,270 115,284 156,404

How Long Does a Toyota Hilux Last?

Based on 146,528 Toyota Hilux vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.4 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Toyota Hilux Mileage Distribution

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

Median
94,890 mi
75th Percentile
135,668 mi
95th Percentile
203,454 mi
Max Recorded
1,413,561 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Hilux

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

Best year
2020

83.7% MOT pass rate from 20,816 tests

Year to avoid
1971

63.8% MOT pass rate from 152 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Hilux is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.7% across 20,816 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Hilux Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Hilux THIS CAR 73.1% 1,500,658 94,890 mi 39 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
Volvo XC90 74.6% 1,122,947 87,449 mi 23 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Toyota Hilux?

The Toyota Hilux has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.1% across 1,500,658 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Hilux are fog lamp not working (30,380 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (30,017), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (25,129). 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 Hilux owner drives around 7,298 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 Hilux models stay on UK roads for around 39 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 Hilux — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Hilux reliable?
Based on 1,500,658 MOT tests, the Toyota Hilux has a 73.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Hilux?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, brake pipe excessively corroded, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Hilux do per year?
The typical Toyota Hilux does around 7,298 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Hilux last?
Most Toyota Hilux models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 146,528 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Hilux?
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 Hilux?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Hilux is 2020 with a 83.7% pass rate across 20,816 tests.