2009 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,191 MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota Estima recorded an 87.2% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 15.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests against 4.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and headlamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 345 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 19.1% versus 9.2%.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 10.7% fail against 15.0% for petrol, a 4.3-point gap across 7,096 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 830 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 324 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.2% | 233 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.8% | 199 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.7% | 194 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 91 |
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 | 345 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 281 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 266 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 206 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 188 |
| 6 | Wipers | 168 |
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 | 20.5% | 1,476 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.2% | 1,310 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 1,023 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 837 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.0% | 651 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.9% | 278 |
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 | 759 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,135 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,076 | 15.4% |
| 120-150k | 714 | 15.8% |
| 150k+ | 470 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 3,710 | 10.7% |
| Petrol | 3,386 | 15.0% |
| Electric | 39 | 15.4% |
| Diesel | 34 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 772 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 1,275 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 1,532 | 12.5% |
| 2024 | 1,780 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 1,832 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Estima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.5% 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 (3.2% 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 2009 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 7,191 2009 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2009 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 30-60k band to 19.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,191 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.