Used car guide

2006 Toyota Estima: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Toyota Estimas, from 884 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

884MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
5,300typical miles a year
8.1×the usual rate for steering swivel joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Toyota Estimas than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Steering swivel joints8.1× usual
    Toyota Estima
    11.3% All 2006 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rear fog light5.1× usual
    Toyota Estima
    6.1% All 2006 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 1.1% of all 2006 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints1.9× usual
    Toyota Estima
    7.5% All 2006 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame bushes5.3× usual
    Toyota Estima
    3.7% All 2006 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.5% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Engine oil leaks: 5.2% here, against 13.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Toyota Estima MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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
    33% 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
    25% 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
    24% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Steering
    10% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Looking at a Toyota Estima?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020524Suspension 32%
2019738Suspension 28%
2018769Suspension 23%
2017990Suspension 22%
20161,055Suspension 29%
2015938Suspension 28%
20141,404Suspension 26%
20131,709Suspension 27%
20121,895Suspension 27%
20111,311Suspension 32%
20101,722Suspension 32%
20091,642Suspension 31%
20081,310Suspension 38%
2007946Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Toyota Estimas registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score