Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Toyota Hilux?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Toyota Hilux?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Toyota Hilux?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Toyota Hilux reliable?

Based on MOT data from 509 vehicles, the 2021 Toyota Hilux has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Toyota Hilux?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Toyota Hilux are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (21.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Toyota Hilux?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Toyota Hilux (2021)

509 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.3% first-time pass rate

2021 Toyota Hilux

CarHunch analysed 509 real MOT records for the 2021 Toyota Hilux. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Toyota Hilux posts an 83% first-time pass rate, slightly above the UK average of 80%, with a low 8.1% rate of dangerous defects—well below the threshold of concern for most buyers. Diesel variants (which make up virtually all sales) maintain an identical 82.8% pass rate, indicating consistent reliability across the powertrain.

At nearly 33,000 km average mileage for three-year-old vehicles, these Hilux trucks are running fairly hard, yet they're averaging just 0.6 failures per test and 2.2 advisories, suggesting the model tolerates heavy use well. If you're considering one, a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension and brake components (common advisory items on work trucks) will give you confidence in its condition.

The 2021 Toyota Hilux passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (83.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

83.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

8.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.6

Over 2.8 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

29k

Middle half: 19k–41k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 509 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 509 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 21.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 13.5%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 9.6%

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil · Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 7.1%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Lighting 5.3%

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 509 Toyota Hilux cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Toyota Hilux

Based on MOT data from 509 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	505	83.2%	0.61

Colour Breakdown

Based on 143,142 Toyota Hilux vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 22.5%

32,253

Blue 14.7%

21,071

Silver 14.3%

20,513

Grey 13.9%

19,953

Black 13.8%

19,799

Red 12.2%

17,512

Green 6.9%

9,927

Maroon 0.6%

851

Yellow 0.3%

400

Gold 0.2%

316

Turquoise 0.2%

314

Beige 0.2%

233

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Toyota Hilux vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

29,468

typical

18,905

low mileage

41,464

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Toyota Hilux vehicles fall between 18,905 and 41,464 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 18,905 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 18,905–41,464 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Toyota Hiluxs sit.

⚠ Over 55,976 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Toyota Hilux — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Toyota Hiluxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 489 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.6

Avg failures per vehicle

2.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Hilux: All Hilux years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Toyota Hilux stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?