Toyota Estima: what fails at MOT
34,000 MOT tests on the Toyota Estima in 2024, counted. 19.1% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
18.8% of Toyota Estima tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 30.3%, so the Estima does better than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (6.8% of tests), suspension (3.1% of tests) and wipers, washers and windscreen (2.1% of tests).
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 726 | 27.3% | 10.9% | 93,700 82,800 to 111,900 |
| 2020 | 917 | 33.4% | 11.5% | 100,100 85,100 to 127,500 |
| 2019 | 1,310 | 20.8% | 13.4% | 97,600 67,100 to 134,500 |
| 2018 | 1,559 | 15.8% | 15.6% | 68,100 40,000 to 121,300 |
| 2017 | 2,171 | 13.9% | 18.2% | 60,100 40,300 to 95,500 |
| 2016 | 2,003 | 18.4% | 21.3% | 77,200 47,600 to 124,700 |
| 2015 | 1,690 | 20.2% | 24.4% | 76,100 56,500 to 117,000 |
| 2014 | 2,578 | 16.6% | 27.7% | 71,400 52,600 to 109,000 |
| 2013 | 3,755 | 13.0% | 30.6% | 68,900 55,600 to 91,000 |
| 2012 | 3,909 | 13.7% | 33.4% | 72,600 59,800 to 89,200 |
| 2011 | 2,388 | 18.7% | 36.1% | 78,200 66,000 to 95,400 |
| 2010 | 3,241 | 19.3% | 38.6% | 82,900 67,800 to 101,200 |
| 2009 | 2,948 | 18.9% | 39.8% | 84,400 68,700 to 104,400 |
| 2008 | 2,055 | 24.7% | 41.5% | 90,700 75,000 to 110,300 |
| 2007 | 1,397 | 28.8% | 41.5% | 93,700 76,100 to 122,800 |
| 2006 | 1,284 | 26.7% | 42.4% | 95,200 74,900 to 121,100 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Toyota Estima tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Estima | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 6.8% | 8.7% | |
| Suspension | 3.1% | 7.3% | Less than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 2.1% | 3.3% | Less than most |
| Brakes | 1.9% | 5.1% | Less than most |
| Tyres | 1.9% | 4.5% | Less than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 0.9% | 2.4% | Less than most |
| Body and structure | 0.8% | 2.7% | Less than most |
| Steering | 0.4% | 1.6% | Less than most |
The parts that fail most
- Rear fog light2.5%
- Side light2.0%
- Headlamp1.6%
- Tyre1.3%
- Number plate light1.3%
- Headlamp aim1.2%
- Wipers1.2%
- Linkage ball joint dust cover1.1%
- Brake pads1.1%
- Washers0.9%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Side light: not working2.0%
- Rear fog light: not working1.4%
- Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.1%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.1%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps1.0%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.0%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam0.8%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm0.7%
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect0.7%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.7%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge6.8%
- Brake pads: wearing thin4.1%
- Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn3.3%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.0%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.5%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened2.2%
- Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output2.1%
- Play in steering rack inner joint(s)1.8%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
Check a Toyota Estima's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.