2008 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
4,630 MOT tests on the 2008 Toyota Alphard- are in this dataset, and 84.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.7% fail rate), the 2008 Alphard- comes out 11.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests against 7.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, linkage ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 221 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.0% versus 9.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 485 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 335 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.4% | 157 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 117 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.4% | 112 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 65 |
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 | 221 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 197 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 133 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 121 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 117 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 113 |
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 | 22.9% | 1,062 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.0% | 832 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 613 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 365 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.0% | 231 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 131 |
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 | 71 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,073 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,173 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 914 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 297 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 100 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 4,181 | 15.9% |
| Petrol | 449 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 468 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 690 | 15.5% |
| 2023 | 1,005 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 1,201 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 1,266 | 16.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.2% 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 (3.4% 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 2008 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 4,630 2008 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by suspension (7.2%).
Does the 2008 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,630 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.