MPV and people carrier · 2004–2021 cars
Toyota Vellfire reliability
The Toyota Vellfire fails 11% of first MOT tests, 66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 8,666 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota Vellfire before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 11%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 66% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 8,666
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 5,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota Vellfire ages
Each point is the share of Toyota Vellfires of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota Vellfire | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 11.4% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 8.1% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 6.5% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 11.4% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 11.5% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 15.2% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 12.6% | 42.3% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota Vellfire years
2012 cars come out best and 2008 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 360 | 9.2% | 65% fewer fails | 51,696 |
| 2013 | 791 | 5.1% | 83% fewer fails | 60,348 |
| 2012 Vellfire | 1,499 | 6.7% | 78% fewer fails | 59,021 |
| 2011 | 750 | 14% | 59% fewer fails | 67,001 |
| 2010 Vellfire | 1,918 | 13.2% | 63% fewer fails | 67,670 |
| 2009 Vellfire | 1,401 | 13.1% | 65% fewer fails | 65,926 |
| 2008 Vellfire | 1,123 | 14.1% | 62% fewer fails | 68,319 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Toyota Vellfire
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics6.3%53% below avg
- Suspension3.8%67% below avg
- Tyres1.8%70% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.6%70% below avg
- Brakes1.2%83% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.6%84% below avg
- Steering0.3%87% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.3%90% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.2%80% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.15% 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 0.95% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing 0.9% of tests
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 4
Rear fog lamp not working 0.83% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.83% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 0.62% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 7
Rear fog lamp switch missing 0.6% of tests
Without a working fog lamp switch, the fog lamps cannot be used properly, so the switch needs fitting or repair.
- 8
Shock absorber serious fluid leak 0.57% of tests
A shock absorber leaking heavily has likely lost its damping, so the car will handle and brake less safely.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Vellfire's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit3.46%
- Brake pads wearing thin2.99%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.39%
- Swivel pin or bush slightly worn2.11%
- Shock absorber light oil misting1.34%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear1.29%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota Vellfire
- 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
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 4
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.
- 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 Vellfire covers about 5,700 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
- Petrol90.5%
- Hybrid9.2%
- Diesel0.1%
- LPG0.1%
- Other0.1%
Most common colours
White, Black, Purple, Silver, Grey
Average engine size: 2.7 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota Vellfire compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Vellfire | 11% | 66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda Stepwagon | 23% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Serena | 21.3% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | 46.1% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Spacetourer | 21.4% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Berlingo Multispace | 25% | 54% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SsangYong Rodius | 38.5% | 65% 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 Vellfire questions, answered
Is the Toyota Vellfire reliable?
On MOT results, the Toyota Vellfire is better than average: it fails 11% of first MOT tests, 66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 1 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota Vellfire MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Vellfire are anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed (1.15% of tests), position lamp not working (0.95% of tests), obligatory rear fog lamp missing (0.9% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 6.3% of its tests.
Which Toyota Vellfire year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2012 cars do best (78% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2008 cars do worst (62% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Toyota Vellfire do a year?
A typical Toyota Vellfire covers about 5,700 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 Vellfire 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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