2006 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,404 MOT tests, the 2006 Toyota Alphard- recorded an 83.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.5% fail rate), the 2006 Alphard- comes out 10.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 305 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 16.8% of the time against 17.1% for hybrid.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 716 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 487 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 261 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 215 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.9% | 185 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 305 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 275 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 226 |
| 4 | Wipers | 218 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 191 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 164 |
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 | 24.8% | 1,589 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.9% | 1,276 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 837 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 661 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.3% | 277 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 237 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 145 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,784 | 13.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,751 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 1,169 | 21.7% |
| 120-150k | 374 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 181 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 5,719 | 17.1% |
| Petrol | 683 | 16.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 774 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 1,065 | 15.5% |
| 2023 | 1,369 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 1,586 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 1,610 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2006 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 6,404 2006 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.6%).
Does the 2006 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,404 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.