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Toyota Hilux steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 25,254 MOT tests · Updated

At 3 years, 0.2 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota Hilux failed on steering, against 0.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 25,254 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 54 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 20 years and at every older age seen
  • MOT tests at 3 years: 25,254 for the Toyota Hilux

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.1 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The Toyota Hilux is a commercial or van-based vehicle: it is compared with all class 4 vehicles, cars and vans together, so part of any difference can come from how vans are used.

Toyota Hilux steering fails by age

Toyota Hilux steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Toyota Hilux. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 25,254 MOT tests34 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 24,443 MOT tests5 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 21,142 MOT tests56 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 20,413 MOT tests7 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 20,981 MOT tests78 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 20,443 MOT tests9 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 19,608 MOT tests910 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 18,926 MOT tests11 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 17,284 MOT tests1112 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 14,757 MOT tests13 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 12,549 MOT tests1314 years: 2.4 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 10,440 MOT tests15 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 8,629 MOT tests1516 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 7,141 MOT tests17 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 6,294 MOT tests1718 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 5,868 MOT tests19 years: 4.8 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 4,971 MOT tests1920 years: 6.5 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 4,676 MOT tests21 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 3,970 MOT tests2122 years: 6.4 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 3,076 MOT tests23 years: 6.7 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 2,750 MOT tests2324 years: 6.9 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 2,547 MOT tests25 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 2,239 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Toyota Hilux All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
325,2540.20.1
424,4430.30.2
521,1420.40.3
620,4130.60.5
720,9810.60.8
820,4430.91.2
919,6080.91.8
1018,9261.22.1
1117,2841.52.5
1214,7571.62.8
1312,5491.82.9
1410,4402.43.2
158,6292.53.3
167,1413.23.4
176,2943.53.6
185,8684.93.9
19*4,9714.84.1
20*4,6766.54.2
21*3,9706.64.2
22*3,0766.44.0
23*2,7506.73.9
24*2,5476.93.7
25*2,2395.83.7

All first-use years of the Toyota Hilux pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 3 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.4 diesel: 0.3 per 100 at 3 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 16,648 MOT tests)
  • 3.0 diesel: 1.1 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.6×) (all test years; 10,911 MOT tests)
  • 2.5 diesel: 1.4 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.5–0.7×) (all test years; 7,958 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Toyota Hilux, not the average

The figures here describe Toyota Hilux cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Toyota Hilux problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Toyota Hilux have more steering problems than other cars?

0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 25,254 MOT tests).

How common are Toyota Hilux steering problems?

0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years failed on steering, against 0.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 25,254 MOT tests).

At what age do Toyota Hilux steering fails start?

20 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 19,258 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 278,401 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare