2002 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Toyota Alphard- passed 80.1% of its 695 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 7.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 40 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.3% versus 13.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 85 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.6% | 53 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 51 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 34 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 29 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 31 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 30 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.0% | 229 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.6% | 164 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.1% | 140 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 114 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.8% | 75 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.5% | 45 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 105 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 245 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 167 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 104 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 606 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 89 | 18.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 18.0% |
| 2022 | 90 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 93 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 213 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 210 | 20.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (7.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 695 2002 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by brakes (7.6%).
Does the 2002 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 695 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.