MPV and people carrier · 1996–2021 cars

Toyota Estima reliability

The Toyota Estima fails 20.8% of first MOT tests, 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 61,364 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 83/100#4 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a Toyota Estima before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 20.8%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 37% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 61,364; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 14,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Toyota Estima ages

Each point is the share of Toyota Estimas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Toyota EstimaAll cars

Toyota Estima first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Toyota Estima	All cars
3	28.4%	12.3%
4	27.4%	14.1%
5	20.9%	16.4%
6	18.9%	19.1%
7	19.3%	22.1%
8	22%	25.5%
9	19.3%	28.8%
10	15.9%	31.8%
11	13.8%	34.6%
12	18.8%	37.3%
13	18.7%	39.5%
14	20.3%	41.1%
15	23.5%	42.3%
16	26.8%	42.9%
17	28.1%	43.4%
18	30.3%	43.5%
19	35.7%	43.4%
20	47%	42.8%

By year

The best and worst Toyota Estima years

2012 cars come out best and 2020 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Toyota Estima MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	445	26.7%	18% more fails	94,854
2020 Estima	1,219	31.8%	42% more fails	98,145
2019 Estima	2,599	23%	6% more fails	101,214
2018 Estima	2,789	20.8%	3% fewer fails	91,987
2017 Estima	3,671	18.8%	14% fewer fails	70,504
2016 Estima	4,013	21.6%	11% fewer fails	85,188
2015 Estima	3,257	22.3%	19% fewer fails	84,381
2014 Estima	4,308	19.3%	35% fewer fails	74,385
2013 Estima	5,710	15.1%	52% fewer fails	71,474
2012 Estima	6,018	15.2%	55% fewer fails	73,259
2011 Estima	4,324	18.4%	49% fewer fails	77,328
2010 Estima	5,909	19.6%	49% fewer fails	80,842
2009 Estima	5,464	19.2%	52% fewer fails	82,664
2008 Estima	4,206	22.9%	45% fewer fails	86,915
2007 Estima	3,011	27.7%	35% fewer fails	90,233
2006 Estima	2,662	26.3%	38% fewer fails	90,404
2005	538	36.1%	14% fewer fails	87,562
2004	562	35.8%	17% fewer fails	108,698
2003	366	37.2%	16% fewer fails	132,583

Common problems

What fails most on a Toyota Estima

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics12.7%9% below avg
Suspension5.8%48% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.9%25% below avg
Brakes3.5%55% below avg
Tyres3.3%50% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.7%55% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.6%61% below avg
Steering0.7%71% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.5%53% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 2.73% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Rear fog lamp not working 2.07% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.75% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.6% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.38% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
6
Registration plate lamp not working 1.37% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.16% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
8
Dipped beam headlamp not working 1.11% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Estima's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit7.87%
Brake pads wearing thin5.89%
Swivel pin or bush slightly worn3.84%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.37%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.15%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.91%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Toyota Estima

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
3
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Toyota Estima covers about 14,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol57.3%
Hybrid37%
LPG3.3%
Diesel1.3%
Other0.6%
Electric0.5%

Most common colours

White, Silver, Black, Grey, Blue

Average engine size: 2.4 litres.

Compare

How the Toyota Estima compares with its rivals

Toyota Estima against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Toyota Estima	20.8%	37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Caravelle	33.5%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Altea	41.2%	4% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Tourneo	25.6%	10% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Focus C-Max	48.7%	11% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Carens	35.6%	25% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Grand Scenic	46.3%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Toyota models.

Questions

Toyota Estima questions, answered

Is the Toyota Estima reliable?

On MOT results, the Toyota Estima is better than average: it fails 20.8% of first MOT tests, 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 4 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a Toyota Estima MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Estima are position lamp not working (2.73% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (2.07% of tests), anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed (1.75% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 12.7% of its tests.

Which Toyota Estima year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2012 cars do best (55% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2020 cars do worst (42% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Toyota Estima do a year?

A typical Toyota Estima covers about 14,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Toyota Estima before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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