2018 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,713 MOT tests, the 2018 Toyota Estima recorded an 85.1% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 12.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests against 5.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and headlamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 174 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.9% versus 4.6%.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 10.5% fail against 17.7% for petrol, a 7.1-point gap across 3,642 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.4% in 2021 to 13.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 484 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.1% | 189 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 140 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.6% | 135 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 114 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 60 |
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 | 174 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 160 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 157 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 127 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 113 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 92 |
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 | 21.9% | 814 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.3% | 678 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.8% | 551 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 376 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.7% | 361 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 168 |
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 | 173 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 537 | 4.7% |
| 60-90k | 755 | 13.5% |
| 90-120k | 860 | 16.6% |
| 120-150k | 734 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 651 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,254 | 17.7% |
| Hybrid | 1,388 | 10.5% |
| Gas/LPG | 40 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 681 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 680 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 769 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 732 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 851 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Estima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% 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 (3.8% 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 2018 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 3,713 2018 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (5.1%).
Does the 2018 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,713 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.