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Common problems by part

Toyota Estima steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 5,891 MOT tests · Updated

At 13 years, 0.7 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota Estima failed on steering, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,891 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 41 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 17 ages from 3 to 19 years, 63,559 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 13 years: 5,891 for the Toyota Estima

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.7 fails per 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 13 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Toyota Estima steering fails by age

Toyota Estima steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Toyota Estima. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 1,957 MOT tests34 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 2,329 MOT tests5 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 2,510 MOT tests56 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 3,266 MOT tests7 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 3,526 MOT tests78 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 3,660 MOT tests9 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 3,666 MOT tests910 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 4,005 MOT tests11 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 5,130 MOT tests1112 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 5,651 MOT tests13 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 5,891 MOT tests1314 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 5,437 MOT tests15 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 5,311 MOT tests1516 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 4,487 MOT tests17 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 3,178 MOT tests1718 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 2,197 MOT tests19 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 1,358 MOT tests19
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Toyota Estima All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
31,9570.90.1
42,3290.80.2
52,5100.90.3
63,2661.10.5
73,5260.70.8
83,6600.81.2
93,6661.01.8
104,0050.82.1
115,1300.72.5
125,6510.52.8
135,8910.72.9
145,4370.83.2
155,3110.83.3
164,4870.73.4
173,1780.73.6
182,1970.83.9
19*1,3581.54.1

All first-use years of the Toyota Estima pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 13 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
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How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Toyota Estima, not the average

The figures here describe Toyota Estima cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Toyota Estima problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Toyota Estima have more steering problems than other cars?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 13 years, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 5,891 MOT tests).

How common are Toyota Estima steering problems?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 13 years failed on steering, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 5,891 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 63,559 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare