MPV and people carrier · 2000–2021 cars

Toyota Alphard reliability

The Toyota Alphard fails 23.2% of first MOT tests, 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 35,750 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 79/100#7 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a Toyota Alphard before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 23.2%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 32% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 35,750; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 13,600; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Toyota Alphard ages

Each point is the share of Toyota Alphards of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Toyota AlphardAll cars

Toyota Alphard first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Toyota Alphard	All cars
3	28.8%	12.3%
4	30.3%	14.1%
5	28.8%	16.4%
6	30.6%	19.1%
7	32.2%	22.1%
8	29.7%	25.5%
9	22.8%	28.8%
10	11%	31.8%
11	12.6%	34.6%
12	15.4%	37.3%
13	14.9%	39.5%
14	18.2%	41.1%
15	17.9%	42.3%
16	21.3%	42.9%
17	21.4%	43.4%
18	24.5%	43.5%
19	27.5%	43.4%
20	28.6%	42.8%
21	29.2%	41.4%

By year

The best and worst Toyota Alphard years

2009 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Toyota Alphard MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	474	23.4%	16% more fails	78,209
2020	941	30.6%	53% more fails	77,195
2019 Alphard	1,342	28.9%	40% more fails	81,703
2018 Alphard	1,792	28.6%	31% more fails	86,389
2017 Alphard	2,028	30.3%	28% more fails	92,832
2016 Alphard	1,689	31.4%	19% more fails	103,829
2015 Alphard	1,214	32.2%	13% more fails	102,030
2014	658	18.7%	39% fewer fails	82,664
2013	964	11%	64% fewer fails	64,000
2012 Alphard	1,143	13.2%	58% fewer fails	63,202
2011	639	15.6%	54% fewer fails	66,489
2010 Alphard	1,349	16.7%	54% fewer fails	69,602
2009 Alphard	1,151	13.7%	62% fewer fails	65,250
2008 Alphard	3,657	19.7%	49% fewer fails	69,631
2007 Alphard	5,106	19.7%	48% fewer fails	65,707
2006 Alphard	4,657	22%	43% fewer fails	66,235
2005 Alphard	2,738	25.3%	37% fewer fails	72,241
2004 Alphard	2,538	26.9%	33% fewer fails	73,844
2003 Alphard	1,270	29.1%	28% fewer fails	75,305
2002	390	24.1%	40% fewer fails	78,343

Common problems

What fails most on a Toyota Alphard

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics12.7%14% below avg
Suspension7.3%34% below avg
Tyres4.3%31% below avg
Brakes3.8%54% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.4%42% below avg
Body, chassis and structure2.1%58% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.7%60% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.8%48% below avg
Steering0.8%63% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 2.13% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
2
Position lamp not working 2% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Rear fog lamp not working 1.9% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.89% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.46% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.41% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
7
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.35% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
8
Stop lamp not working 1.24% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Alphard's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit10.2%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear8.65%
Brake pads wearing thin6.27%
Swivel pin or bush slightly worn4.74%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.65%
Brake disc pitted or scored3.83%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Toyota Alphard

1
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Toyota Alphard covers about 13,600 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Other53.4%
Hybrid44%
Petrol2.7%
LPG0%

Most common colours

White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue

Average engine size: 2.6 litres.

Compare

How the Toyota Alphard compares with its rivals

Toyota Alphard against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Toyota Alphard	23.2%	32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz V-Class	17%	24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Honda FR-V	44.1%	about average for its age
Ford Tourneo Connect	21.1%	9% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Mazda Bongo	45.3%	16% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Mazda 5	48.2%	22% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C4 Grand Picasso	28.6%	49% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Toyota models.

Questions

Toyota Alphard questions, answered

Is the Toyota Alphard reliable?

On MOT results, the Toyota Alphard is better than average: it fails 23.2% of first MOT tests, 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 7 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a Toyota Alphard MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Alphard are anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed (2.13% of tests), position lamp not working (2% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (1.9% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 12.7% of its tests.

Which Toyota Alphard year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (40% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Toyota Alphard do a year?

A typical Toyota Alphard covers about 13,600 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Toyota Alphard before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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