2011 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,571 MOT tests, the 2011 Toyota Estima recorded an 86.5% pass rate. That is 11.7 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 25.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.2% of all tests — 5.6 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 253 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 30-60k band and 25.0% in the 150k+ band, a 14.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 6.1pp more often than hybrid ones (15.9% vs 9.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 626 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 313 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 181 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.9% | 162 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.6% | 144 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 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 | 253 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 186 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 183 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 173 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 139 |
| 6 | Wipers | 126 |
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 | 21.7% | 1,207 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.5% | 920 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 778 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 549 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.2% | 457 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 215 |
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 | 652 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,669 | 10.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,261 | 15.0% |
| 120-150k | 483 | 19.9% |
| 150k+ | 480 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,337 | 15.9% |
| Hybrid | 2,172 | 9.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 513 | 13.5% |
| 2022 | 917 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 1,226 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 1,430 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 1,485 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Estima
On a 2011 Estima, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 (3.3% 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 2011 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
86.5% of the 5,571 2011 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by suspension (5.6%).
Does the 2011 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 30-60k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,571 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.