Toyota Previa
From 8,198 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Previas fare better: 2014 models pass at 92.8% vs 61.2% for 2001.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 409 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 409 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 386 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 338 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 301 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 296 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 253 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 226 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 223 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 204 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 201 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.4% of Previa failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 18.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £105.
Fuel type matters
LP versions pass at 75.2% while Petrol versions pass at 64.8%, a 10 percentage point gap.
Toyota Previa on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 577 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 36 newly registered, a net loss of 541. At this rate, roughly 10 years until none remain. Now at 16.9% of its peak (31,962 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 3,010 | 2,378 | +25 | -114 | -89 |
| 2025 Q2 | 3,111 | 2,366 | +9 | -107 | -98 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,199 | 2,376 | +1 | -173 | -172 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,350 | 2,397 | +1 | -183 | -182 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,506 | 2,423 | +0 | -162 | -162 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,662 | 2,429 | +5 | -131 | -126 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,771 | 2,446 | +2 | -167 | -165 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,948 | 2,434 | +0 | -163 | -163 |
12 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Previa Tspirit Vvti Auto | Gas | 838 | 31% |
| Previa T3 Vvti Auto | Petrol | 363 | 14% |
| Previa Cdx Vvti Auto | Petrol | 308 | 12% |
| Previa Gls Vvti Auto | Petrol | 255 | 10% |
| Previa Tspirit D-4D | Diesel | 200 | 7% |
| Previa Gs Auto | Gas | 138 | 5% |
| Previa T2 Vvti Auto | Gas | 124 | 5% |
| Previa Gs Vvti Auto | Petrol | 108 | 4% |
| Previa T3 D-4D | Diesel | 92 | 3% |
| Previa Gl Auto | Petrol | 90 | 3% |
| Previa T2 Vvti | Petrol | 83 | 3% |
| Previa Gx Auto | Petrol | 70 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 92.8% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a door hinge, catch or pillar excessively deteriorated |
| 2013 | 72.1% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 66.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 65.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
11 earlier years
| 2004 | 62.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 63.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2002 | 62.1% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2001 | 61.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 64.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1999 | 68.4% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1998 | 67.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1997 | 69.6% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a wheel with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud |
| 1996 | 63.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1995 | 62.1% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1993 | 62.8% | exhaust system leaking or insecure, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
Typical mileage
Half of all Previas tested had between 112,247 and 162,976 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 139,057 median miles, the Previa has 0.025 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Toyota models
| Toyota Yaris | 76% |
| Toyota Aygo | 78.9% |
| Toyota Prius | 82.4% |
| Toyota Auris | 76.7% |
| Toyota Rav4 | 82.8% |
Common questions
What is the Toyota Previa MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Previa has a 65.4% MOT pass rate based on 8,198 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Previa?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Previa is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 409 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Toyota Previas are on UK roads?
There are 3,010 Toyota Previas currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,378 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Previa at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Previa is 139,057 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 112,247 and 162,976 miles.
Buying a used Previa?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 65.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £105 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.