2003 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 63.9% of Toyota Land Cruisers first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. Across 4,120 Land Cruiser first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Toyota Land Cruisers first used in 2003 (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
How the 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Land Cruisers first used in 2003 against all cars first used in 2003 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Land Cruiser figure was 5.2 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2003 Land Cruiser | All cars first used 2003 | Land Cruiser first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 61.4% | 54.0% | 1,805 |
| 2022 | 63.6% | 55.7% | 1,724 |
| 2023 | 66.6% | 56.7% | 1,544 |
| 2024 | 64.0% | 57.2% | 1,357 |
| 2025 | 63.9% | 58.7% | 1,219 |
Common 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT failures
Share of the 1,444 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%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | 15.2% | 220 |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 11.1% | 160 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | 10.2% | 148 |
| Rear fog lamp: not working | 8.9% | 129 |
| Chassis condition: or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting | 8.7% | 126 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- 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.
Common 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2003 Land Cruisers, as a share of all 4,120 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 15.3% | 630 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 10.6% | 435 |
| Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced | 8.2% | 337 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 7.9% | 327 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 7.8% | 321 |
Questions about the 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser?
In 2025, 63.9% of Land Cruisers first used in 2003 passed their MOT first time, against 58.7% for all cars first used in 2003. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2003 Land Cruiser most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 48.3% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (40.0%) and brakes (35.2%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (15.2%).
How often does a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser fail its MOT?
In 2025, 36.1% of first tests on Land Cruisers first used in 2003 did not pass first time: 30.0% failed, and a further 6.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 1,444 of 4,120 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT advisories?
“Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (on 15.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Coil spring: corroded” (10.6%), “Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced” (8.2%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.9%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (7.8%).
Is a 2003 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 61.4% in 2021 to 63.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2003
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2003 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2003 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2003 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2003 Toyota Yaris MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2003 Land Cruiser?
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