2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol than on all cars registered in 2010.

• Headlights2.6× usual
  Toyota Urban Cruiser

  15% All 2010 cars

  5.8%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 3.4% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

• Rear reflectors11× usual
  Toyota Urban Cruiser

  4.4% All 2010 cars

  0.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

• Corroded fuel pipes9.5× usual
  Toyota Urban Cruiser

  3.8% All 2010 cars

  0.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% 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.

• Electronic stability control10.3× usual
  Toyota Urban Cruiser

  3.1% All 2010 cars

  0.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 0.3% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

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

• Engine warning light2.1× usual
  Toyota Urban Cruiser

  4.2% All 2010 cars

  2%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  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.

Common 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

• Brakes
  36% 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.

• Lights and electrics
  32% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Tyres
  29% 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.

• Suspension
  26% 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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  11% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Exhaust and emissions
  9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol

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

1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the rear reflectors? (Flagged at MOT 11× as often on the 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the corroded fuel pipes? (Flagged at MOT 9.5× as often on the 2010 Toyota Urban Cruiser petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?