Sports car and convertible · 1996–2021 cars
Toyota MR2 reliability
The Toyota MR2 fails 33.3% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 29,006 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota MR2 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 33.3%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 17% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 29,006
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota MR2 ages
Each point is the share of Toyota MR2s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota MR2 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 24% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 29.4% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 30.3% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 32.8% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 35.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 34.3% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 34.2% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 34.1% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 37.1% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 32.2% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 31.2% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota MR2 years
2006 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 204 | 29.9% | 31% fewer fails | 99,928 |
| 2006 MR2 | 2,643 | 28.1% | 25% fewer fails | 66,415 |
| 2005 MR2 | 3,030 | 32.1% | 20% fewer fails | 80,614 |
| 2004 MR2 | 4,367 | 32.6% | 21% fewer fails | 83,667 |
| 2003 MR2 | 4,698 | 33.1% | 20% fewer fails | 89,519 |
| 2002 MR2 | 3,946 | 36.2% | 12% fewer fails | 89,653 |
| 2001 MR2 | 3,261 | 36.1% | 10% fewer fails | 92,240 |
| 2000 MR2 | 3,248 | 36% | 8% fewer fails | 94,458 |
| 1999 MR2 | 1,216 | 31.9% | 17% fewer fails | 104,864 |
| 1998 MR2 | 1,511 | 31.4% | 16% fewer fails | 107,550 |
| 1997 | 474 | 36.9% | 0% more fails | 105,101 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota MR2
Its weak spot is brakes: 50% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Brakes18.2%50% above avg
- Lights and electrics12.2%35% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks9.2%36% above avg
- Suspension8.6%41% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4%45% below avg
- Tyres3.5%40% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure2.8%67% below avg
- Steering1.7%50% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.9%67% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 8.56% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Parking brake inoperative on one side 4.77% of tests
The parking brake does not work on one side, so the car may not hold on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Position lamp not working 2.87% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency under half required 2.78% of tests
The parking brake is well below required strength and is unlikely to hold the car on a slope.
- 5
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.64% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.33% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.13% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 8
Carbon monoxide high after fast idle 2.07% of tests
High carbon monoxide can point to engine or catalytic converter faults, so ask for diagnosis before buying.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota MR2's MOT certificate most often.
- Coil spring showing some corrosion9.66%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.09%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.2%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit7.04%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive6.96%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy4.66%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota MR2
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Parking brake inoperative on one side
The parking brake does not work on one side, so the car may not hold on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency under half required
The parking brake is well below required strength and is unlikely to hold the car on a slope.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol100%
- LPG0%
- Other0%
Most common colours
Silver, Red, Black, Blue, Green
Average engine size: 1.8 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota MR2 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar XK | 17.8% | 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XKR | 22.6% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Paceman | 15.5% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz SLC | 11.8% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota MR2 | 33.3% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Celica | 39.4% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo C70 | 38.9% | 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Toyota models.
Questions
Toyota MR2 questions, answered
Is the Toyota MR2 reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota MR2 is better than average: it fails 33.3% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 43 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota MR2 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota MR2 are parking brake efficiency below minimum (8.56% of tests), parking brake inoperative on one side (4.77% of tests), position lamp not working (2.87% of tests). By area, brakes fails 18.2% of its tests.
Which Toyota MR2 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2006 cars do best (25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Toyota MR2 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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