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Toyota Hilux suspension problems

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

At 3 years, 0.9 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota Hilux failed on suspension, against 0.6 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: fails 1.3–1.7× as often as all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 232 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 278,401 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Shock absorber leaking, 0.3 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.9 fails per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.6 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3 (all test years). The Toyota Hilux fails more often here.

Why it matters

A suspension fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Push down hard on each corner: it should rise once and settle. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and look behind each wheel for snapped springs or split rubber bushes.

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 suspension fails by age

Toyota Hilux suspension fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Toyota Hilux. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.010203 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 25,254 MOT tests34 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 0.9), 24,443 MOT tests5 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 1.6), 21,142 MOT tests56 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 20,413 MOT tests7 years: 7.5 per 100 (all cars 4.4), 20,981 MOT tests78 years: 9.1 per 100 (all cars 6.1), 20,443 MOT tests9 years: 11.0 per 100 (all cars 7.9), 19,608 MOT tests910 years: 12.5 per 100 (all cars 9.7), 18,926 MOT tests11 years: 13.9 per 100 (all cars 11.6), 17,284 MOT tests1112 years: 15.4 per 100 (all cars 13.4), 14,757 MOT tests13 years: 17.1 per 100 (all cars 14.9), 12,549 MOT tests1314 years: 18.4 per 100 (all cars 16.0), 10,440 MOT tests15 years: 17.1 per 100 (all cars 16.7), 8,629 MOT tests1516 years: 18.3 per 100 (all cars 17.1), 7,141 MOT tests17 years: 17.7 per 100 (all cars 17.2), 6,294 MOT tests1718 years: 17.6 per 100 (all cars 17.2), 5,868 MOT tests19 years: 17.6 per 100 (all cars 16.9), 4,971 MOT tests1920 years: 17.5 per 100 (all cars 16.5), 4,676 MOT tests21 years: 18.8 per 100 (all cars 15.9), 3,970 MOT tests2122 years: 18.5 per 100 (all cars 15.2), 3,076 MOT tests23 years: 17.3 per 100 (all cars 14.5), 2,750 MOT tests2324 years: 17.4 per 100 (all cars 13.5), 2,547 MOT tests25 years: 15.2 per 100 (all cars 12.8), 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
325,2540.90.6
424,4431.60.9
521,1422.61.6
620,4134.62.9
720,9817.54.4
820,4439.16.1
919,60811.07.9
1018,92612.59.7
1117,28413.911.6
1214,75715.413.4
1312,54917.114.9
1410,44018.416.0
158,62917.116.7
167,14118.317.1
176,29417.717.2
185,86817.617.2
19*4,97117.616.9
20*4,67617.516.5
21*3,97018.815.9
22*3,07618.515.2
23*2,75017.314.5
24*2,54717.413.5
25*2,23915.212.8

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 suspension at 3 years

Fails

  • Shock absorber leaking: 0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.2. Replace shock absorbers: estimated £122–£484 (0.8–3 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £60–£250) Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace shock absorbers cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

Buying a Toyota Hilux? Check that exact car before the viewing.

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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: 0.9 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: 12.5 per 100 at 10 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,911 MOT tests)
  • 2.5 diesel: 12.6 per 100 at 10 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,958 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Push down hard on each corner: it should rise once and settle. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and look behind each wheel for snapped springs or split rubber bushes.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil.

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

Suspension on rival models

Questions people ask

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

1.3 to 1.7 times the suspension fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 3 years (all test years), from 25,254 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 1.2 in the same direction at 8 of the 23 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Toyota Hilux suspension problems?

0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years failed on suspension, against 0.6 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 25,254 MOT tests).

What is the most common Toyota Hilux suspension fail?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years: Shock absorber leaking (83 MOT tests with it).

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.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. 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