2013 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
6,369 MOT tests on the 2013 Toyota Estima are in this dataset, and 87.6% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (21.9% fail rate), the 2013 Estima comes out 9.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.4% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 245 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 18.9% in the 150k+ band, a 13.0-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 5.3pp more often than hybrid ones (14.2% vs 9.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.7% in 2021 to 12.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 661 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 322 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 176 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.7% | 170 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.4% | 155 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 98 |
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 | 245 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 234 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 175 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 170 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 167 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 121 |
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 | 19.9% | 1,269 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.9% | 949 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 716 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 530 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.4% | 409 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 226 |
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 | 68 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,325 | 8.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,470 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,156 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 623 | 17.7% |
| 150k+ | 714 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,041 | 14.2% |
| Hybrid | 2,260 | 9.0% |
| Gas/LPG | 33 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 624 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 944 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 1,265 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 1,668 | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 1,868 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Estima
On a 2013 Estima, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% 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 2013 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
87.6% of the 6,369 2013 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 2013 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,369 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.