1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 67.0% of Toyota Land Cruisers first used in 1997 passed their MOT first time, against 66.9% for all cars first used in 1997. Across 2,540 Land Cruiser first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were brakes, lamps and electrical equipment and suspension.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Toyota Land Cruisers first used in 1997 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
67.0%
of 772 first tests; all cars first used in 1997: 66.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
2,540
first tests, 2023–2025; 772 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
27.2%
of 772 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
178,000
middle half: 148,000–214,000 miles; all cars first used in 1997: 100,000

How the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Land Cruisers first used in 1997 against all cars first used in 1997 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Land Cruiser figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

1997 Land CruiserAll cars first used in 1997
60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 1997, test year 2021: 61.4%All cars first used in 1997, test year 2022: 63.3%All cars first used in 1997, test year 2023: 64.5%All cars first used in 1997, test year 2024: 65.4%All cars first used in 1997, test year 2025: 66.9%1997 Land Cruiser, test year 2021: 62.1%1997 Land Cruiser, test year 2022: 64.2%1997 Land Cruiser, test year 2023: 63.1%1997 Land Cruiser, test year 2024: 65.4%1997 Land Cruiser, test year 2025: 67%67%66.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year1997 Land CruiserAll cars first used 1997Land Cruiser first tests
202162.1%61.4%1,024
202264.2%63.3%1,016
202363.1%64.5%925
202465.4%65.4%843
202567.0%66.9%772

Common 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT failures

Share of the 888 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Brakes41.9%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment40.8%
Suspension37.4%
Body, chassis, structure29.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems14.3%
Visibility14.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks13.3%
Steering9.1%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Position lamp: not working11.9%106
Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced10.4%92
Stop lamp: not working9.7%86
Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength8.6%76
Parking brake efficiency (sp): efficiency below requirements7.4%66

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.

Common 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 1997 Land Cruisers, as a share of all 2,540 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material14.9%378
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive12.4%316
Coil spring: corroded10.4%263
Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced8.5%215
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge6.9%175

Questions about the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser?

In 2025, 67.0% of Land Cruisers first used in 1997 passed their MOT first time, against 66.9% for all cars first used in 1997. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 1997 Land Cruiser most often fail its MOT on?

Brakes (in 41.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (40.8%) and suspension (37.4%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (11.9%).

How often does a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser fail its MOT?

In 2025, 33.0% of first tests on Land Cruisers first used in 1997 did not pass first time: 27.8% failed, and a further 5.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 888 of 2,540 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT advisories?

“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 14.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (12.4%), “Coil spring: corroded” (10.4%), “Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced” (8.5%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (6.9%).

Is a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 62.1% in 2021 to 67.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 1997

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

1997 Land Rover Defender MOT statistics · 1997 Volkswagen Transporter MOT statistics · 1997 Mazda MX-5 MOT statistics · 1997 BMW Z3 MOT statistics · 1997 BMW 3 Series MOT statistics

How the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “1997 Land Cruiser” means a Toyota Land Cruiser whose date of first use falls in 1997 (P and R plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 1997, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.