Used car guide · 2006–2017

London Taxis INT TX4 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used London Taxis INT TX4, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 37,094 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

37,094MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2009best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006

What usually goes wrong with a London Taxis INT TX4?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the London Taxis INT TX4 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common London Taxis INT TX4 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Diesel

  • Steering box

    up to 78× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 4.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

London Taxis INT TX4 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 London Taxis INT TX4 did best (63% passed first time, 4 points above all 2009 cars) and the 2017 did worst (69%, 11 points below all 2017 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201769%80% -113,092
201669%77% -84,793
201566%74% -86,232
201462%70% -86,731
201364%67% -33,149
201265%64% +12,850
201162%62% +03,099
201061%60% +12,562
200963%59% +41,904
200857%57% +01,176
200761%57% +41,345
200659%56% +3161 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a London Taxis INT TX4

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the steering box? (Flagged at MOT 74× as often on the London Taxis INT TX4 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 7× as often on the London Taxis INT TX4 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the London Taxis INT TX4 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a London Taxis INT TX4?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score