Toyota
Mr2
23,506 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where Mr2s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 5.0 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
72.5%
Pass-after-fix
3.3%
Fail
22.9%
Avg miles
98,239
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Toyota Mr2: mixed MOT record across 13,420 tests
The Toyota MR2 is a two-seater sports car which was manufactured and marketed by Toyota from 1984 until 2007 over three generations. It was the first Japanese rear-mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive production car and was sold around the world.
MOT data from 13,420 tests puts this car on a 71.4% first-time pass rate, below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 95,147 miles. The most common fail item is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, followed by headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective.
The Mr2's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 10–28
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
10–28
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
1,193 occurrences · 5.1% of tests
- 02
Parking brake inoperative on one side
725 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 03
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
716 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 04
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
652 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 05
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
543 occurrences · 2.3% of tests
- 06
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
487 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 07
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
462 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 08
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
452 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 09
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
443 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 10
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
388 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
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Parts & supplies for this fix
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Recall history
1 UK recall on record.
The Mr2 has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Mr2?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Mr2 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.