Toyota Previa Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Previa car check
Is the Toyota Previa reliable? We analysed 509,000 real MOT tests across 39,906 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Previa? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Previa is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Previa.
Toyota Previa Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Previa. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Previa MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Previa to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Previa Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Previa fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Previa Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Previa owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Previa MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Previa year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 78 | 79.5% | 36,979 | 77,256 | 147,095 |
| 2016 | 455 | 75.6% | 85,571 | 107,228 | 133,021 |
| 2015 | 691 | 74.5% | 80,236 | 112,606 | 149,478 |
| 2014 | 537 | 70.8% | 76,858 | 101,506 | 127,093 |
| 2013 | 841 | 73.4% | 66,888 | 89,056 | 120,324 |
| 2012 | 833 | 72.1% | 71,338 | 98,321 | 133,664 |
| 2011 | 1,111 | 72.0% | 82,396 | 116,984 | 152,998 |
| 2010 | 1,369 | 72.2% | 86,049 | 118,682 | 158,466 |
| 2009 | 967 | 71.4% | 87,256 | 118,838 | 159,988 |
| 2008 | 2,335 | 72.5% | 79,292 | 112,044 | 151,800 |
| 2007 | 3,461 | 70.7% | 83,201 | 115,734 | 153,001 |
| 2006 | 24,440 | 72.3% | 65,472 | 100,181 | 139,328 |
| 2005 | 32,934 | 72.4% | 66,448 | 100,396 | 138,908 |
| 2004 | 41,089 | 71.3% | 68,234 | 102,886 | 140,513 |
| 2003 | 49,497 | 70.8% | 68,645 | 102,422 | 140,228 |
| 2002 | 49,175 | 70.4% | 73,000 | 104,168 | 138,641 |
| 2001 | 49,104 | 70.4% | 77,937 | 107,893 | 142,096 |
| 2000 | 28,349 | 68.0% | 82,213 | 110,178 | 142,934 |
| 1999 | 12,078 | 67.1% | 87,032 | 112,810 | 142,888 |
| 1998 | 25,371 | 66.6% | 89,607 | 112,769 | 139,855 |
How Long Does a Toyota Previa Last?
Based on 39,906 Toyota Previa vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Previa Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Previa 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 Previa
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.5% MOT pass rate from 78 tests
60.3% MOT pass rate from 136 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Previa is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.5% across 78 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Previa Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Previa THIS CAR | 68.6% | 509,000 | 114,199 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 |
| Volvo 700 Series | 67% | 194,851 | 141,155 mi | 41 yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Previa trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Previa 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 PreviaShould you buy a used Toyota Previa?
The Toyota Previa has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.6% across 509,000 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Toyota Previa are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (25,856 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (23,987), and stop lamp not working (19,738). 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 Previa owner drives around 6,517 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 Previa 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.