2017 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Toyota Estima passed 85.4% of its 4,535 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail at 14.0%, so the 2017 Estima sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.4% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 198 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.6% in the 0-30k band and 21.2% in the 150k+ band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 8.3pp more often than hybrid ones (16.9% vs 8.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.4% in 2021 to 12.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 562 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 263 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 198 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 177 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.4% | 153 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 114 |
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 | 198 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 176 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 174 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 169 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 147 |
| 6 | Wipers | 141 |
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 | 21.4% | 971 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.3% | 787 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.4% | 655 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 513 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 359 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 229 |
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 | 251 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 927 | 5.2% |
| 60-90k | 980 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 980 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 704 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 692 | 21.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,241 | 16.9% |
| Hybrid | 1,233 | 8.6% |
| Gas/LPG | 36 | 13.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 639 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 793 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 975 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 1,046 | 11.5% |
| 2025 | 1,082 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Estima
On a 2017 Estima, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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 (4.4% 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 2017 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 4,535 2017 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2017 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,535 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.