2019 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Toyota Estima passed 85.8% of its 4,433 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 11.2% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 7.5 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 headlamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 246 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.7% in the 0-30k band and 19.0% in the 150k+ band, a 12.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 5.8pp more often than hybrid ones (17.1% vs 11.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.7% 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 | 13.1% | 582 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 250 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.6% | 159 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 134 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.0% | 134 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 52 |
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 | 246 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 202 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 168 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 151 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 147 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 146 |
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 | 22.7% | 1,004 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.3% | 854 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.1% | 670 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 525 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.3% | 411 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.2% | 187 |
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 | 135 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 379 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,187 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,303 | 13.7% |
| 120-150k | 735 | 18.5% |
| 150k+ | 691 | 19.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,208 | 17.1% |
| Hybrid | 2,182 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 941 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 987 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 974 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 721 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 810 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Estima
On a 2019 Estima, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.6% 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 (3.6% 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 2019 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 4,433 2019 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by suspension (5.6%).
Does the 2019 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,433 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.