2020 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Toyota Estima passed 83.3% of its 3,632 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (11.3% fail rate), the 2020 Estima comes out 5.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.0% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 250 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 30-60k band and 21.0% in the 150k+ band, a 4.7-point spread.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.9pp more often than hybrid ones (17.6% vs 15.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 545 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.7% | 243 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 153 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 137 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 131 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 55 |
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 | 250 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 178 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 153 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 142 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 125 |
| 6 | Wipers | 106 |
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 | 22.9% | 830 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.2% | 806 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.7% | 606 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 454 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.7% | 352 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.0% | 144 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 282 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,410 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,093 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 465 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 357 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,995 | 17.6% |
| Hybrid | 1,621 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 752 | 12.6% |
| 2022 | 827 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 818 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 618 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 617 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Estima
On a 2020 Estima, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.7% 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 (4.2% 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 2020 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 3,632 2020 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by suspension (6.7%).
Does the 2020 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 30-60k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,632 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.