2021 Toyota Estima — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,493 MOT tests, the 2021 Toyota Estima recorded an 85.5% pass rate. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests against 5.5% 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 136 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.6% in the 30-60k band and 19.2% in the 150k+ band, a 4.6-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 14.0% of the time against 14.9% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 307 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 137 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.1% | 77 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 77 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 75 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 23 |
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 | 136 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 100 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 82 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 69 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 64 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 60 |
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% | 534 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.2% | 478 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 385 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 277 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.1% | 226 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.6% | 89 |
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 | 253 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,071 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 731 | 14.5% |
| 120-150k | 268 | 17.5% |
| 150k+ | 156 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,347 | 14.9% |
| Hybrid | 1,133 | 14.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 551 | 9.6% |
| 2022 | 561 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 546 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 428 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 407 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Estima
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.5% 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.
- Tyres (3.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2021 Toyota Estimas pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 2,493 2021 Toyota Estima MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Toyota Estima?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (5.5%).
Does the 2021 Estima get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 30-60k band to 19.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,493 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.