Toyota Highlander MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 86.4% of Toyota Highlander MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 832 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
87.1%
All cars: 86.1% (1 points better). 788 tests.
At 6–10 years
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
At 11 years and over
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 632 | 88.1% | 87.8% | 33,750 miles |
| 4 | 156 | 83.3% | 86.4% | 41,250 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Toyota Highlander MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | Highlander | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.5% | 16.6% |
| Visibility | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Tyres | 5.4% | 8.4% |
| Suspension | 1.4% | 13.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.6% | 4.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Brakes | 0.2% | 10.2% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.2% | 0.4% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 5.9% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too high failed 4.4% of tests · what this means
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 2.2% of tests
- Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords failed 1.6% of tests
- Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak failed 0.8% of tests · what this means
- Position lamp: not working failed 0.7% of tests · what this means
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed failed 0.7% of tests
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect failed 0.7% of tests · what this means
- Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure failed 0.5% of tests
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid failed 0.4% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular Highlander?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every Highlander version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: hybrid electric (clean) 94.2%, petrol 5.8%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Toyota models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.