2008 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota Estima passed 85.6% of its 6,402 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 28.7% of the time, so this is 14.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.5% of all tests — 8.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 334 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.0% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 20.9% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 13.5% of the time against 14.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 865 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 346 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 242 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 237 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.3% | 210 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 117 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 334 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 281 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 276 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 204 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 167 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 167 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 25.2% | 1,616 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.6% | 1,322 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.2% | 1,099 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 920 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.9% | 571 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 285 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 531 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,523 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,889 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 760 | 16.1% |
| 150k+ | 664 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,483 | 14.9% |
| Hybrid | 2,703 | 13.5% |
| Diesel | 102 | 26.5% |
| Other | 52 | 11.5% |
| Electric | 48 | 10.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 935 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 1,151 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 1,300 | 13.5% |
| 2024 | 1,513 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 1,503 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Estima
On a 2008 Estima, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Visibility (3.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 6,402 2008 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2008 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 30-60k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,402 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.