Toyota Estima and Tarago XR50 buying guide

2006 to 2019. An Estima suits a family that wants a roomy 7 or 8 seater, ideally the V6, and will check the gearbox and power doors.

Big jobs

2.4 oil consumption. The 2AZ-FE 2.4 is reported to burn oil, put down to a piston ring design fault, and new rings only help a little.
2.4 head bolt stretch. Stretched head bolts on the 2.4 lead to coolant loss, overheating and a blown head gasket, and the fix is new bolts and rethreading the block.
Automatic gearbox. The early 4 speed auto can be harsh and shudder under full throttle, clunk on downchanges and be slow to upshift. The U660E 6 speed is reported to fail suddenly, and its fluid can be changed despite sealed for life claims.

3.5 V6 VVT-i oil line and timing chain. The VVT-i oil return line on the 2GR-FE 3.5 can leak, and the timing chain can stretch and its tensioner fail.
Power sliding doors. Power sliding doors can stop working, scrape or shudder, and a button near the centre console turns the power doors off.
Sunroof leaks. Sunroof leaks on the 50 Series are put down to poor factory silicone, and the fix means removing and resealing the sunroof.
AWD rear diff bushes and front bushes. A clunk from the rear of AWD V6 models usually comes from worn rear diff bracket bushes, and noises from the front passenger corner are often worn bushes.

3.5 V6 idler pulley. A squeal when the air conditioning runs can mean the idler pulley is seizing, which the specialist warns can start a fire. It is often blamed on the belt or compressor.

Researched 2026-11-04. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.