Toyota HiAce years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year
All 4 Toyota HiAce years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.
- Below the average for their first-use yearNone
- Above the average for their first-use year2005–2008
- Can't be told apart from averageNone
The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.
First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 64.1% to 66.6%.
In 2025, 65.4% of the 5,547 initial MOT tests on Toyota HiAce cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 57.3%. That is 8.1 points above the same-age average.
Check a specific HiAce
Toyota HiAce MOT pass rate by year
| Year | Chart | Testsmedian miles | Passed first time | Against all vehicles that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008age 17 | 1,520141,700 | 68.0%±2.4 | +10.8 ptsall: 57.2% | |
| 2007age 18 | 1,640143,800 | 64.5%±2.4 | +7.1 ptsall: 57.4% | |
| 2006age 19 | 1,306149,000 | 63.3%±2.7 | +6.3 ptsall: 57.0% | |
| 2005age 20 | 1,081150,800 | 65.5%±2.9 | +7.9 ptsall: 57.6% |
Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.
When a car's mileage doesn't add upCommon HiAce problems at the MOT
MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.
Most common MOT failures on the Toyota HiAce
| Defect | Share of failed tests | All vehicles, same age |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp not workingLights and electrics | 19.1%368 tests | 13.7% |
| Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strengthSuspension | 16.0%307 tests | 5.1% |
| Wiper does not clear the windscreen effectivelyWindscreen, wipers, mirrors | 12.9%247 tests | 6.2% |
| Stop lamp not workingLights and electrics | 12.1%233 tests | 9.4% |
| Rigid brake pipes excessively corrodedBrakes | 8.3%159 tests | 3.9% |
| Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively wornSuspension | 6.9%133 tests | 0.6% |
| Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lampsLights and electrics | 6.6%127 tests | 4.5% |
| Washer provides insufficient washer liquidWindscreen, wipers, mirrors | 5.8%111 tests | 5.6% |
| Integral vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reducedBody, chassis, structure | 5.5%106 tests | 1.6% |
| Rear fog lamp not workingLights and electrics | 4.6%89 tests | 2.2% |
These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the HiAce's failed tests in each year. How we count
What to check when viewing a HiAce
Lights and electrics
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Brakes
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.
Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.
Check a HiAce's MOT historyAfter an MOT advisory
Brakes
Of Toyota HiAce cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a brake advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 10.8% failed on brakes, against 6.2% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,310 and 3,982 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 20.0% of those with a brake advisory and 15.5% of the others.
Suspension
Of Toyota HiAce cars that passed their 2024 MOT with a suspension advisory and came back for their next MOT 10–14 months later, 13.9% failed on suspension, against 9.1% of similar cars with nothing noted. Based on 1,701 and 3,331 cars.
Cars not tested again in that window are not included: 19.4% of those with a suspension advisory and 15.1% of the others.
Similar cars are the same model, first-use year and mileage band. Areas are the DVSA's top-level groups, so the later fail may not be the fault that was advised. These figures describe what happened to these cars. They don't show what a repair would have changed.
How we worked this outAll models compared, with the dataToyota HiAce questions
Which Toyota HiAce years have lower MOT pass rates?
Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2005–2008. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.
Is the Toyota HiAce reliable?
MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 65.4% of initial MOT tests on Toyota HiAce cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 57.3%. That is 8.1 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.
What are the most common Toyota HiAce problems at the MOT?
The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 50.4% of failed tests), suspension (in 37.7% of failed tests) and brakes (in 27.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.
What mileage is normal for a 20-year-old Toyota HiAce?
At their 2025 MOT tests, Toyota HiAce cars first used in 2005, about 20 years old, had a median of 150,800 miles. Half had more and half had less.
How do I check a specific HiAce's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.
Check a car's MOT history for freeWhat MOT data can't tell you about any Toyota HiAce
Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.
Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't showOther Toyota models
- Toyota Yaris+2.4 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota Aygo+2.7 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota Prius+6.7 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota Auris+3.8 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota RAV4+5.2 pts against the same-age average
- Toyota Corolla+2.4 pts against the same-age average
Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.
All 17 Toyota modelsCars ranked by MOT pass rate, by ageSource: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Toyota HiAce cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count