2007 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
6,765 MOT tests on the 2007 Toyota Alphard- are in this dataset, and 84.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.2% of the time, so this is 11.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 304 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.4% versus 9.7%.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 4.5pp more often than petrol ones (16.2% vs 11.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 725 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.3% | 424 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 228 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.2% | 218 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 207 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 108 |
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 | 304 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 249 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 200 |
| 4 | Wipers | 200 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 199 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 150 |
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 | 24.9% | 1,681 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.5% | 1,183 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.3% | 830 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 641 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 283 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 198 |
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 | 124 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,893 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 3,103 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,197 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 331 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 113 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 6,201 | 16.2% |
| Petrol | 564 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 629 | 12.4% |
| 2022 | 1,110 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 1,412 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 1,773 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 1,841 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Alphard-
On a 2007 Alphard-, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2007 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 6,765 2007 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.3%).
Does the 2007 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,765 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.