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Toyota Estima Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Toyota Estima car check

Is the Toyota Estima reliable? We analysed 210,672 real MOT tests across 28,466 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 210,672 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
75.6%
Typical Mileage
105,044mi
Annual Mileage
7,341mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Toyota Estima is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, fog lamp not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Estima.

Toyota Estima Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Toyota Estima. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Toyota Estima MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Toyota Estima to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.4%
2023
84.5%
2022
80.7%
2021
79.4%
2020
82.3%
2019
80.9%
2018
80.9%
2017
79.8%
2016
79.8%
2015
81.7%
2014
82.4%
2013
83.2%
2012
80.8%
2011
80.2%
2010
80.7%
2009
77.9%
2008
75%
2007
75.2%
2006
68.6%
2005
69.3%
2004

Toyota Estima Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Toyota Estima fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,826
fog lamp not working 4,768
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 4,765
position lamp(s) not working 3,374
Brake hose excessively deteriorated 3,347
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 2,814
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine 2,726
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 2,522
Stop lamp not working 2,328
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 2,268

Toyota Estima Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Toyota Estima owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,308 mi/yr
Typical
7,341 mi/yr
Average
10,458 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,357 mi/yr

Toyota Estima MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Estima year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 96 84.4% 71,782 83,914 108,207
2022 239 84.5% 65,346 77,701 93,538
2021 2,556 80.7% 75,704 93,555 120,122
2020 4,281 79.4% 75,496 95,918 127,437
2019 5,801 82.3% 71,951 95,210 127,304
2018 5,122 80.9% 69,308 99,404 133,924
2017 6,749 80.9% 65,720 93,758 131,154
2016 8,927 79.8% 67,922 97,032 133,342
2015 6,942 79.8% 66,238 95,163 129,468
2014 7,903 81.7% 62,158 84,470 119,541
2013 9,377 82.4% 63,508 82,550 114,579
2012 9,511 83.2% 66,902 83,853 108,858
2011 8,236 80.8% 71,750 88,846 119,388
2010 11,327 80.2% 72,403 90,298 120,087
2009 11,074 80.7% 74,904 92,774 121,192
2008 12,554 77.9% 77,022 98,740 133,064
2007 13,374 75.0% 79,088 103,096 137,300
2006 13,128 75.2% 80,758 108,450 143,595
2005 8,984 68.6% 88,589 118,713 154,321
2004 9,862 69.3% 94,560 127,720 162,111

How Long Does a Toyota Estima Last?

Based on 28,466 Toyota Estima vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.3 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Toyota Estima Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Estima MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
105,044 mi
75th Percentile
143,065 mi
95th Percentile
209,190 mi
Max Recorded
1,154,998 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Estima

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

84.5% MOT pass rate from 239 tests

Year to avoid
1991

59.7% MOT pass rate from 129 tests

The best year to buy a used Toyota Estima is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.5% across 239 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Toyota Estima Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Toyota Estima THIS CAR 75.6% 210,672 105,044 mi 34 yrs
Toyota Yaris 77.7% 9,038,234 54,896 mi 27 yrs
Toyota Corolla 75.4% 4,239,724 75,409 mi 36 yrs
Toyota Avensis 75% 3,497,866 89,776 mi 28 yrs
Citroen C4 Cactus 80.3% 150,634 38,287 mi 11 yrs

Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Estima sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Toyota Estima you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Toyota Estima?

The Toyota Estima has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.6% across 210,672 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Toyota Estima are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4,826 recorded failures), fog lamp not working (4,768), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (4,765). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Toyota Estima owner drives around 7,341 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Toyota Estima models stay on UK roads for around 34 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Toyota Estima — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Toyota Estima reliable?
Based on 210,672 MOT tests, the Toyota Estima has a 75.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Toyota Estima?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, fog lamp not working, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Toyota Estima do per year?
The typical Toyota Estima does around 7,341 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Toyota Estima last?
Most Toyota Estima models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 28,466 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Toyota Estima?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Toyota Estima?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Toyota Estima is 2022 with a 84.5% pass rate across 239 tests.