Toyota MR2 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Toyota MR2 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 21,192 MOT tests across 19 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol
75%
Toyota MR2 pass rate
84%
Toyota average
82%
All-model average
The Toyota MR2 has an average MOT pass rate of 75%, which is 9 points below the Toyota average and 7 points below the average across all models in our data. The Toyota MR2 has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 3 percentage points.
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What the Toyota MR2 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 3,125 MOT tests on the Toyota MR2 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Brakes
53%Cars and vans the same age: 31% (the MR2 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Lights and electrics
35%Cars and vans the same age: 49% (the MR2 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
31%Cars and vans the same age: 18% (the MR2 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Suspension
26%Cars and vans the same age: 36% (the MR2 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
12%Cars and vans the same age: 18% (the MR2 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (26% of failed tests, brakes)
- Parking brake inoperative on one side (14% of failed tests, brakes)
- Petrol engine emissions: lambda reading outside the limits (10% of failed tests, exhaust, emissions and leaks)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Toyota MR2 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each MR2 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Toyota MR2 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Petrol | 2.0L | 93% | 7% | - |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 23% | - |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 79% | 20% | 73% (+6) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 23% | 73% (+4) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.0L | 77% | 22% | 72% (+5) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.8L | 77% | 22% | 72% (+5) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.8L | 75% | 24% | 73% (+2) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.8L | 76% | 23% | 73% (+3) |
| 2000 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 26% | 74% (-2) |
| 1999 | Petrol | 2.0L | 76% | 22% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | 76% (0) |
| 1997 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 26% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 2.0L | 73% | 25% | - |
| 1995 | Petrol | 2.0L | 73% | 27% | - |
| 1994 | Petrol | 2.0L | 73% | 22% | - |
| 1993 | Petrol | 2.0L | 72% | 25% | - |
| 1992 | Petrol | 2.0L | 70% | 27% | - |
| 1991 | Petrol | 2.0L | 74% | 25% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 1.6L | 79% | 20% | - |
Toyota MR2 Running Costs
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Toyota MR2 FAQ
What are the most common Toyota MR2 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Toyota MR2 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on brakes (53% of the 3,125 failed tests), lights and electrics (35%) and exhaust, emissions and leaks (31%). The single most common fault was "Parking brake efficiency below requirements" (26%). Across 21,192 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 75% ended in a pass.
Is the Toyota MR2 reliable?
The Toyota MR2 has an average MOT pass rate of 75%, from 21,192 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which Toyota MR2 years should I avoid?
No Toyota MR2 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2006 (79% of 1,274 tests passed, against 73% for all 2006 cars), the 2003 (77% of 2,505 tests passed, against 72% for all 2003 cars) and the 2004 (77% of 2,267 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Toyota MR2 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Toyota MR2 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Toyota Models
Common problems pages for other Toyota models