At a glance
How 3,180 first tests went in 2025.
- Passed first time
- 56 in every 100
- Did not pass first time
- 44 in every 1001,388 failed first-attempt tests
- The typical car
- 14 yearsabout 121,466 miles
- First tests counted
- 3,180
What failed most often
- Individual sidelight or tail light (front)16 in every 100 failed tests
- Handbrake efficiency below minimum (roller test)13 in every 100 failed tests
- Chassis condition (rear)11 in every 100 failed tests
How we count this. Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Only Class 4 cars on their first MOT of the year are counted. A car that fails and is fixed at the test station still counts as a fail in the first-attempt rate. These are raw results, not adjusted for age, mileage, or peer mix. The MOT does not test engine or gearbox internals.
These are patterns across 2011 Toyota Hilux vehicles in 2025, not a prediction that any one car will have them. Faults are grouped by part of the car. They come from MOT defect codes, not manufacturer bulletins, recalls or a diagnosis of any one car.
Suspension
Three faults. The strongest is the suspension spring mounting area (rear): 27 times as often as on similar cars.
Figures below are measured across the 1,388 failed first attempts in 2025 that had a mileage recorded, which allows a like-for-like comparison.
We only list faults with at least 20 failures and a rate of about 2.0 times that of similar cars, which keeps one-off results out of the list.
Suspension spring mounting area (rear)
What it means
Testers check the strength and continuity of the load bearing structure within a set distance of a spring, sub-frame or suspension mounting, an area DVSA calls a prescribed area. Strength that is significantly reduced, or an area inadequately repaired, is Major. Structure so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected is graded Dangerous.
Leaf spring (rear)
What it means
Modified spring anchor or shackle brackets with more mounting holes than the chassis are not a reason to reject leaf spring suspension, and neither is a missing bump stop rubber. A fractured main leaf is graded Dangerous. A spring that is fractured or seriously weakened is graded Major.
Suspension mounting area (rear)
What it means
The load bearing structure within a set distance of a sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting is a prescribed area. Major applies when its strength or continuity is significantly reduced or it is inadequately repaired. Dangerous applies when it is so weakened that control of the vehicle is likely to be adversely affected.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 41 first tests, 2.7 times as often as on similar cars.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.
Body and structure
Four faults. The strongest is the chassis condition (rear): 27 times as often as on similar cars.
Chassis condition (rear)
What it means
A main load-bearing structural member that is fractured, deformed, modified or inadequately repaired is Major when structural rigidity is significantly reduced, and Dangerous where steering or braking is likely to be adversely affected. Corrosion of the body, cab or chassis at a mounting point is Dangerous where overall security or stability is impaired.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 95 first tests, 12 times as often as on similar cars.
Chassis condition (front)
What it means
A main load-bearing structural member that is fractured, deformed, modified or inadequately repaired is Major when structural rigidity is significantly reduced, and Dangerous where steering or braking is likely to be adversely affected. Corrosion of the body, cab or chassis at a mounting point is Dangerous where overall security or stability is impaired.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 27 first tests, 9.8 times as often as on similar cars.
Fuel tank
What it means
A fuel tank, pipe or hose that is insecure is Major, and graded Dangerous when so insecure there is a risk of fire. The check covers all permanently attached fuel tanks, including gas tanks and cylinders, and hydrogen tanks on fuel cell vehicles count as fuel tanks. A missing heat shield fails a vehicle only where there is a risk of fire with other fuel system components.
Vehicle structure condition (rear)
What it means
Structure that is fractured, deformed, corroded, modified or inadequately repaired is failed on rigidity only if the overall structural rigidity of the vehicle is significantly reduced. Structure that is likely to affect steering or braking adversely is graded Dangerous. Prescribed areas are not covered here, as they are checked under other sections, including brakes and steering.
Also noted as an advisory
Testers also noted it as an advisory, worn but not yet failing, on 31 first tests, 5.5 times as often as on similar cars.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage. Advisories count notes recorded on failed first tests only.
Seat belts and restraints
One fault: seat belt mounting area (rear), 17 times as often as on similar cars.
Seat belt mounting area (rear)
What it means
A seat belt anchorage likely to become detached in the event of a collision is graded Dangerous. The load bearing structure near an anchorage, called a prescribed area, is Major when its strength or continuity is significantly reduced or it is inadequately repaired. Anchorage points are inspected for all seat belts fitted, except a belt with no corresponding seat.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Lamps and electrical
Two faults. The strongest is the horn: 6.2 times as often as on similar cars.
Horn
What it means
A horn that does not work, or is likely to be confused with an emergency vehicle siren, is graded Major. Gongs, bells, sirens and anything with more than one tone, which includes a horn that alternates between its notes, are not allowed, except a gong, bell or siren on vehicles first used before a set date. Sound defects are Minor for named cases such as a bell or harsh sound, and Major under a general row.
Rear fog light
What it means
A missing obligatory rear fog lamp, one that is not working, or one that does not emit a steady red light is graded Major. A rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp is Major too. The manual allows it to go out when main beam is switched on or when dipped beam headlamps are switched off.
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
Advisories
Other things testers noted as worn or close to failing, more often than on similar cars.
An advisory is a note from the tester about something that has not failed yet. It is an early warning, not a fail. Advisories for the faults above are shown with those faults.
Leaf spring shackle pins and bushes (rear)
Propeller shaft
Headlight
Rigid brake pipes (front)
Anti-roll bar pins and bushes (front)
Data: UK MOT open data, 2025. Counts cover advisories recorded on failed first tests only, compared with cars of the same age and mileage.
MOT pass rates
How first tests ended, and how the pass rates are counted.
- Passed first time
- 56in every 100
- Passed on the first test.
- Fixed at the station
- 7in every 100
- Failed, then fixed at the test station the same day.
- Failed
- 37in every 100
- Did not pass, and were not fixed at the test station.
First-attempt pass 56.4% of 3,180 first tests (2025): only cars that passed first time count. Official-style pass 63.0%: cars fixed at the test station also count as a pass. The 7 fixed and the 37 not fixed make the 44 in every 100 that did not pass first time.
Same model, other years
Passed first time in every 100, all tested in 2025.
Newer cars are younger, so look for a jump rather than the climb.
| Year | Passed first time | First tests |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 63 in every 100 | 348 |
| 1997 | 61 in every 100 | 307 |
| 1998 | 55 in every 100 | 537 |
| 1999 | 61 in every 100 | 508 |
| 2000 | 58 in every 100 | 483 |
| 2001 | 56 in every 100 | 489 |
| 2002 | 58 in every 100 | 742 |
| 2003 | 55 in every 100 | 773 |
| 2004 | 53 in every 100 | 1,121 |
| 2005 | 58 in every 100 | 931 |
| 2006 | 58 in every 100 | 820 |
| 2007 | 57 in every 100 | 1,475 |
| 2008 | 56 in every 100 | 1,645 |
| 2009 | 57 in every 100 | 1,494 |
| 2010 | 56 in every 100 | 2,040 |
| 2011 This car | 56 in every 100 | 3,180 |
| 2012 | 58 in every 100 | 3,400 |
| 2013 | 60 in every 100 | 3,546 |
| 2014 | 63 in every 100 | 4,427 |
| 2015 | 64 in every 100 | 5,140 |
| 2016 | 69 in every 100 | 4,151 |
| 2017 | 75 in every 100 | 4,679 |
| 2018 | 76 in every 100 | 5,088 |
| 2019 | 79 in every 100 | 4,802 |
| 2020 | 80 in every 100 | 4,709 |
| 2021 | 82 in every 100 | 7,700 |
| 2022 | 85 in every 100 | 5,889 |
If you are buying one
What this year's MOT record means for the decision in front of you.
Mileage matters most on a 2011 Hilux.
Of 2011 Hilux vehicles with under 86,000 miles, 63 in every 100 passed their 2025 MOT first time. With 161,000 miles or more, 52 in every 100 did.
What to check at your mileage
How often each fault turned up on a failed first test, by the car's mileage. Read it as: what is likely to need looking at on a car like the one in front of you.
| Under 86,000 | 111,000–133,000 | 161,000 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual sidelight or tail light (front) | 1.7 | 8.0 | 9.9 |
| Handbrake efficiency below minimum (roller test) | 3.9 | 5.1 | 7.0 |
| Chassis condition (rear) | 3.5 | 5.1 | 4.3 |
| Suspension mounting area (rear) | 4.9 | 4.9 | 3.5 |
| Horn | 1.6 | 4.6 | 5.4 |
Faults per 100 first tests, by the car's mileage at the test.
When a car fails
of failed cars had one item to fix.
of failed cars had three or more items to fix.
of all first tests had a defect the tester marked dangerous (unsafe to drive away).
Every figure here is a first-attempt MOT rate from DVSA open data for this model line, for cars of this model year tested in 2025. Each mileage band holds a fifth of the tests. MOTs do not test engine or gearbox internals, so this is a pre-purchase checklist, not a full reliability score.
FAQs
Short answers about how to read this model-year guide.
About this data
How this page is built and what it can (and can't) say.
These figures come from UK MOT open data for this model year. We surface common failure patterns against similar cars, not a full reliability score, and not a pass/fail verdict on any individual vehicle.
What we include
UK Class 4 cars only. Normal MOT tests (not retests); first test per vehicle per calendar year; results pass, PRS, or fail.
Same-day repairs
PRS means the car failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
How we compare
We compare this model year with other Class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year. This model family is left out of the peer group so the car is not measured against itself.
What this does not cover
- MOTs do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronics; this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults come from MOT defect stats, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Age and mileage matching reduces, but does not remove, differences in how cars were used and maintained.
- If the data for a car is too thin to say anything useful, we say so rather than guess.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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