Used car guide

2007 Toyota Estima hybrid: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the hybrid Toyota Estima first registered in 2007 (hybrid cars only): we looked at the 774 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

774MOTs of 2007 hybrid cars, done in 2023–2025
74%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
6,200typical miles a year
7.3×the usual rate for steering swivel joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Steering swivel joints7.3× usual
    Toyota Estima
    8% All 2007 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2007 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 light7.5× usual
    Toyota Estima
    7.5% All 2007 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.2%, against 0.9% of all 2007 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.7% here, against 11% of all 2007 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4.4% here, against 10.5% of all 2007 cars.

Common 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    34% 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
    30% 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
    24% 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
    21% 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
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Steering
    6% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid

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

  1. Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 7.3× as often on the 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rear fog light? (Flagged at MOT 7.5× as often on the 2007 Toyota Estima hybrid as on other cars the same age.)
  3. 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, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Estima compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2022128Suspension 18%
20211,208Suspension 31%
20201,732Suspension 32%
20192,212Suspension 28%
20182,061Suspension 24%
20172,764Suspension 21%
20163,070Suspension 27%
20152,517Suspension 27%
20143,447Suspension 25%
20134,324Suspension 25%
20124,793Suspension 24%
20113,611Suspension 28%
20104,843Suspension 28%
20094,533Suspension 27%
20083,700Suspension 33%
20062,470Suspension 34%
2005515Suspension 43%
2004530Suspension 46%
2003341Suspension 53%
2002230Suspension 57%

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 Estima cars first registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score