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Toyota Prado Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Prado car check

Is the Toyota Prado reliable? We analysed 2,825 real MOT tests across 215 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,825 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.3%
Typical Mileage
139,494mi
Annual Mileage
6,455mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Toyota Prado is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, brake hose excessively deteriorated and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Prado.

Toyota Prado Number Plates

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

Toyota Prado MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

76.1%
2008
76.6%
2006
82.3%
2005
73.3%
2004
77.1%
2003
78.7%
2002
67.1%
2001
67.8%
2000
69.3%
1999
67.3%
1998
70.8%
1997
71%
1996
57.6%
1993

Toyota Prado Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 99
Brake hose excessively deteriorated 70
position lamp(s) not working 66
parking brake recording little or no effort 63
Stop lamp not working 60
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 56
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 56
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 53
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 49
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 45

Toyota Prado Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,665 mi/yr
Typical
6,455 mi/yr
Average
8,026 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,567 mi/yr

Toyota Prado MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 67 76.1% 116,776 156,775 188,288
2006 64 76.6% 96,764 116,876 138,955
2005 220 82.3% 83,547 124,003 185,003
2004 551 73.3% 104,013 151,101 209,080
2003 458 77.1% 102,347 140,508 176,192
2002 122 78.7% 110,593 130,390 164,693
2001 76 67.1% 78,125 122,997 179,725
2000 121 67.8% 103,999 135,860 168,919
1999 127 69.3% 96,603 133,226 187,150
1998 107 67.3% 87,739 116,488 141,358
1997 240 70.8% 117,094 152,398 211,062
1996 421 71.0% 107,372 145,683 202,033
1993 59 57.6% 138,584 174,671 189,736

How Long Does a Toyota Prado Last?

Based on 215 Toyota Prado vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.5 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Toyota Prado Mileage Distribution

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

Median
139,494 mi
75th Percentile
188,324 mi
95th Percentile
284,319 mi
Max Recorded
911,320 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Prado

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

Best year
2005

82.3% MOT pass rate from 220 tests

Year to avoid
1993

57.6% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Prado is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.3% across 220 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Prado Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Prado THIS CAR 73.3% 2,825 139,494 mi 33 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
Kia Ceed Gt-line S Isg S-a 88.5% 869 24,728 mi — yrs

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

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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 Prado?

The Toyota Prado has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.3% across 2,825 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Toyota Prado are fog lamp not working (99 recorded failures), brake hose excessively deteriorated (70), and position lamp(s) not working (66). 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 Prado owner drives around 6,455 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 Prado models stay on UK roads for around 33 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 Prado — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Prado reliable?
Based on 2,825 MOT tests, the Toyota Prado has a 73.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Prado?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, brake hose excessively deteriorated, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Prado do per year?
The typical Toyota Prado does around 6,455 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Prado last?
Most Toyota Prado models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 215 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Prado?
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 Prado?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Prado is 2005 with a 82.3% pass rate across 220 tests.