2010 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
7,698 MOT tests on the 2010 Toyota Estima are in this dataset, and 86.5% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (26.6% fail rate), the 2010 Estima comes out 13.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests against 5.1% 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 386 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.8% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 11.6% fail against 15.2% for petrol, a 3.6-point gap across 7,611 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 905 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 393 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 272 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 233 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 202 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 89 |
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 | 386 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 298 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 244 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 227 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 204 |
| 6 | Wipers | 188 |
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 | 21.2% | 1,630 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.0% | 1,310 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 1,081 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 815 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.2% | 706 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 282 |
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 | 948 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,537 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,893 | 13.9% |
| 120-150k | 678 | 19.5% |
| 150k+ | 606 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,150 | 15.2% |
| Hybrid | 3,461 | 11.6% |
| Diesel | 46 | 23.9% |
| Electric | 32 | 3.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 851 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 1,298 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 1,723 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 1,889 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 1,937 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Estima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.1% 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 (3.5% 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 2010 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 7,698 2010 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 2010 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 30-60k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,698 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.