Toyota Surf
From 555 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 31 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 31 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 20 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 18 |
| 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 | 16 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 14 |
| body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 11 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 11 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 8 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 8 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 7 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.6% of Surf failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 45.1% 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 £160.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 78.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 2004 | 60.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 |
| 2003 | 83.6% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Surfs tested had between 144,453 and 218,928 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 172,479 median miles, the Surf has 0.016 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 Surf MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Surf has a 73.2% MOT pass rate based on 555 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Surf?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Surf is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 31 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Surf at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Surf is 172,479 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 144,453 and 218,928 miles.
Buying a used Surf?
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 73.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £160 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.