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What to check: Toyota Estima

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Ranked across all years of the Toyota Estima, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 8.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 4.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 4.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 3.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.1%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 3.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 3.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 3.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 15.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 9.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the engine from stone cold and watch the exhaust for the first minute.Blue smoke or a lingering cold rattle points at the oil-burning or timing chain issue.

On a hybrid, watch how often the petrol engine cuts in under light throttle.If it's running almost constantly rather than gliding on electric power, the battery may be tired.

Drive slowly over a speed bump or pothole with the windows down.Any clonk or creak from the front end is the commonly reported suspension noise.

Check the power steering fluid reservoir level against the marks.A low level with no visible leak underneath suggests an internally worn rack.

Cycle both sliding doors fully open and shut, by switch and by hand.Hesitation, stalling mid-travel, or failing to lock means the door mechanism needs attention.

Ask for any hybrid health check or battery report in the service history.No record on a car over ten years old means you're buying the battery blind.

Pull the dipstick and check the oil level and colour.Low or very dark oil with no recent service history backs up the oil-consumption risk.

Full Toyota Estima reliability report