Used car guide

2000 Toyota Picnic: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Picnic first registered in 2000: we looked at the 143 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 143 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

143MOTs of 2000 cars, done in 2023–2025
62%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 61%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for coil springs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2000 Toyota Picnic?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2000 Toyota Picnic than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Coil springs2.6× usual
    Toyota Picnic
    22.4% All 2000 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 1.7% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Common 2000 Toyota Picnic MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2000 Toyota Picnic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% 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.

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    29% 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 engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Tyres
    26% 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.

  • Brakes
    25% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2000 Toyota Picnic

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

  1. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2000 Toyota Picnic as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Picnic?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Picnic compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2001–Too few tests
1999236Suspension 47%
1998169Suspension 58%
1997164Suspension 47%
1996–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Picnic cars first registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score