2012 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Toyota Estima passed 88.4% of its 6,724 recorded MOT tests. That is 12.2 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests against 5.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 247 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.0% in the 0-30k band and 19.6% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 8.9% fail against 13.7% for petrol, a 4.8-point gap across 6,635 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 645 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 346 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 187 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.5% | 171 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 139 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 80 |
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 | 247 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 234 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 197 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 192 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 140 |
| 6 | Wipers | 132 |
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 | 20.3% | 1,365 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.2% | 1,025 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.1% | 747 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 610 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.4% | 432 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 211 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 50 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,139 | 6.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,095 | 9.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,411 | 14.2% |
| 120-150k | 572 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 439 | 19.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,751 | 13.7% |
| Hybrid | 2,884 | 8.9% |
| Electric | 53 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 520 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 871 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 1,455 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 1,812 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 2,066 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Estima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% 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 (2.8% 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 2012 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 6,724 2012 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 2012 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,724 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.