Toyota MR2 - 1997
271.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Toyota MR2, model year 1997.
Sample size: 298 cars, 598 tests and 1,622 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 298 cars
The 1997 Toyota MR2 demonstrates a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car from the same year, with 271 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 19% better than the average of 335 defects. In terms of mileage, the defect rate is highest for cars with 0–31,000 miles, suggesting potential early-life issues, but it improves significantly in higher mileage segments. Notably, the MR2 excels in steering, lights and electrics, and body structure, with defect rates considerably lower than average in these areas. There are no standout categories where the MR2 performs worse than average, indicating a generally reliable model within its age group.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 298 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 7.3% better
130.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
Steering
▲ 67.2% better
9.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Excessive roughness in operation of steering
Visibility
▲ 13.9% better
21.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 33.6% better
43.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 18.7% better
203.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 43.7% better
47.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 9.0% better
20.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- Audible warning:
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- A seat belt:
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▼ 9.2% worse
66.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer: missing, obviously modified or obviously defective
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 93
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 85
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 75
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 71
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 69
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 69
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 66
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 66
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 65
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 52
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 50
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 49
is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 12