Used car guide · 2002–2026

Toyota Estima common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Toyota Estima, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 52,272 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

52,272MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
777on the UK register
2009best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2026202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002

What usually goes wrong with a Toyota Estima?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Toyota Estima in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Toyota Estima MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rear fog light

    up to 43× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    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 swivel joints

    up to 20.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    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.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 52× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights

    up to 28× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Ball joint dust cover

    up to 9.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2018.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 16.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Toyota Estima MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota Estima did best (78% passed first time, 19 points above all 2009 cars) and the 2020 did worst (71%, 16 points below all 2020 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202279%89% -10155 (small sample)
202174%87% -131,218
202071%87% -161,737
201978%85% -72,221
201877%83% -62,075
201780%80% +02,792
201677%77% +03,095
201577%74% +32,556
201479%70% +93,469
201381%67% +144,340
201281%64% +174,827
201178%62% +163,654
201077%60% +174,894
200978%59% +194,572
200875%57% +183,746
200771%57% +142,690
200672%56% +162,495
200562%57% +5549
200464%57% +7560
200361%57% +4373 (small sample)
200260%58% +2254 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Toyota Estima

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

  1. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 43× as often on the Toyota Estima as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 20.7× as often on the Toyota Estima as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 52× as often on the Toyota Estima as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Estima?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score