Toyota Townace (1989)
1989 Toyota Townace
CarHunch analysed 170 real MOT records for the 1989 Toyota Townace. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1989 Toyota Townace has a first-time pass rate of 65.1%, which sits well below the UK average of 80%—a genuine red flag for reliability. With 11.2% of vehicles having experienced a dangerous defect, this is a borderline concern that warrants a careful pre-purchase inspection, particularly of braking and structural integrity on a 35-year-old van.
These Townaces are averaging 148,700 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up 1.15 failures and 4.3 advisories per test—suggesting wear and deterioration are catching up. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work and have a trusted mechanic evaluate the chassis, suspension, and engine bay before committing.
What to check before buying a 1989 Toyota Townace
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Toyota Townace
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (85%) | 144 | 65.2% | 1.11 |
| Petrol (15%) | 26 | 64.1% | 1.35 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1989 Toyota Townace vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1989 Toyota Townace vehicles fall between 121,210 and 181,384 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Toyota Townace
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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34.8%
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
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27.9%
Offside Rear fog lamp not working
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20.5%
Oil leak
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20.4%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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19.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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19.1%
Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
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19%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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18.4%
Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Toyota Townace?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.