1997 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 658 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.4% in the 150k+ group versus 20.0% in the 90-120k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 92 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 89 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 68 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 33 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.3% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chassis condition | 60 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 44 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 42 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 40 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 33 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 31 |
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 | 34.4% | 226 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.3% | 206 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.9% | 164 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.4% | 134 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 108 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.7% | 97 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 90-120k | 60 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 116 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 472 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 158 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 147 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 124 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 120 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 109 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Landcruiser Colorado
Before buying a 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
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 Colorados pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 658 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Toyota Landcruiser Colorado?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 1997 Landcruiser Colorado get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 90-120k band to 28.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 658 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.