Used car guide · 1985–2007

Toyota MR2 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Toyota MR2, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 28,372 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1989 Toyota MR2

Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Toyota MR2 as a whole.

804on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolmost common fuel (also petrol hybrid)
What to check on a 1989 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

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).

20072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985

What usually goes wrong with a Toyota MR2?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Toyota MR2 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 Toyota MR2 MOT failures to check

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

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 4.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Handbrake performance

    up to 7.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Steering rack

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1998.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 15.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1997.

    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.

  • Power steering pipes and hoses

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

    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.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Toyota MR2 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Toyota MR2 did best (71% passed first time, 15 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2005 did worst (69%, 12 points above all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200766%57% +9132 (small sample)
200671%56% +152,200
200569%57% +122,482
200467%57% +103,482
200367%57% +103,648
200263%58% +53,100
200164%60% +42,634
200064%61% +32,785
199968%63% +5890
199868%65% +31,220
199767%65% +2787
199668%66% +2621
199566%67% -1519
199468%67% +1609
199364%68% -4882
199263%69% -6902
199166%71% -5733
199069%72% -3746

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Toyota MR2

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

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 4.9× as often on the Toyota MR2 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the handbrake performance? (Flagged at MOT 7.6× as often on the Toyota MR2 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the steering rack? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Toyota MR2 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota MR2?

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