2014 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Toyota Estima passed 86.4% of its 5,441 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (19.8% fail rate), the 2014 Estima comes out 6.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests against 5.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rear fog lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — position lamp alone was recorded 225 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 Estima fails 19.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 20.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.7 points.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 9.1% fail against 15.9% for petrol, a 6.8-point gap across 5,319 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.7% 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 | 11.7% | 637 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.7% | 309 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 155 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 154 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 225 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 219 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 188 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 184 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 171 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 136 |
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 | 19.7% | 1,070 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.9% | 867 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 710 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 432 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.6% | 359 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 246 |
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 | 52 | 19.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,188 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,725 | 10.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,102 | 16.2% |
| 120-150k | 610 | 19.5% |
| 150k+ | 746 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,532 | 15.9% |
| Hybrid | 1,787 | 9.1% |
| Gas/LPG | 80 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 662 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 898 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 1,076 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 1,248 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 1,557 | 13.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Estima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.7% 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 (2.9% 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 2014 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 5,441 2014 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by suspension (5.7%).
Does the 2014 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,441 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.