Used car guide

2010 Toyota HI-ACE: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Toyota HI-ACEs, from 595 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

595MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
9,300typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Toyota HI-ACEs than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.7× usual
    Toyota HI-ACE
    18.3% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 1.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes16.1× usual
    Toyota HI-ACE
    11.3% All 2010 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 0.2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Wheel bearings3.2× usual
    Toyota HI-ACE
    6.4% All 2010 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.8% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

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

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

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 4% here, against 10.2% of all 2010 cars. Coil springs: 5.4% here, against 11.4% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Toyota HI-ACE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    31% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    24% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    7% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Toyota HI-ACE?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009664Suspension 39%
20081,129Suspension 41%
20071,233Suspension 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Toyota HI-ACEs registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score