1997 Toyota Landcruiser Amazon — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 251 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Amazon, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 77.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (76.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.9% | 35 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 21 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 16 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 14 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.8% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prescribed areas | 15 |
| 2 | Decelerometer (sp) | 14 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 14 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 12 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 11 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.7% | 82 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.1% | 53 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 39 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 38 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 12 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 120-150k | 33 | 18.2% |
| 150k+ | 164 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 184 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 67 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 53 | 22.6% |
| 2023 | 54 | 31.5% |
| 2024 | 51 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 41 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Landcruiser Amazon
Before buying a 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Amazon, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 13.9% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (13.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Amazons pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 251 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Amazon MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Amazon?
Brakes, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.4%).
Does the 1997 Landcruiser Amazon get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.2% in the 120-150k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 251 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.