Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,031 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 25.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb MOT Reliability Overview
The Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,031 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% and a failure rate of 25.8%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb presents for MOT with approximately 83,352 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2009 models achieve the highest pass rate at 75.5%, while 2008 models have the lowest at 73.4%. This 2.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 24.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Suspension at 14.2%. Driver's View of the Road rounds out the top three at 10.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (5 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 8 years, with warranty expiry marked at 5 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb sees a significant jump in MOT failures after the warranty period. Failure rate increases by 52% once warranty cover ends. Budget for increased maintenance costs from year 6 onwards. Peak failure occurs at age 8 (36.8% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 27.4% | 282 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 162 |
| 3 | Driver's View Of The Road | 11.2% | 115 |
| 4 | Tyres | 10.4% | 107 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.1% | 73 |
| 6 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.0% | 21 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.7% | 18 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.0% | 10 |
| 9 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.8% | 8 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 0.3% | 3 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 3 |
| 12 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.3% | 3 |
| 13 | Items Not Tested | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 83,352 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.28 | 27.4% | 282 |
| Suspension | 1.89 | 15.7% | 162 |
| Visibility | 1.34 | 11.2% | 115 |
| Tyres | 1.25 | 10.4% | 107 |
| Brakes | 0.85 | 7.1% | 73 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.24 | 2.0% | 21 |
| Seat Belts | 0.21 | 1.7% | 18 |
| Steering | 0.12 | 1.0% | 10 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.09 | 0.8% | 8 |
| Wheels | 0.03 | 0.3% | 3 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.03 | 0.3% | 3 |
| Body & Structure | 0.03 | 0.3% | 3 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.01 | 0.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb has 83,352 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.10% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb MOT Data
The Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,031 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% and a failure rate of 25.8%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 24.5% of MOT failures on the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 14.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 14.2% of MOT failures on the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Driver's View of the Road — 10.7% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 10.7% of MOT failures on the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb?
Based on 1,031 MOT tests in our database, the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb has an overall pass rate of 74.2% (25.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb?
The top 3 reasons a Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (24.5%), 2. Suspension (14.2%), 3. Driver's View of the Road (10.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb reliable?
With a 25.8% MOT failure rate, the Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Toyota Hiace 280 D-4d 120 Swb?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (24.5%); Suspension (14.2%); Driver's View of the Road (10.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.