2009 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Toyota Alphard- passed 87.3% of its 1,204 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 2009 Alphard- comes out 13.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.0%) and suspension (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, ball joint dust cover and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 58 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.9% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 15.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 108 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 74 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.7% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 9 |
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 | 58 |
| 2 | Ball joint dust cover | 39 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 36 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 6 | Switch | 24 |
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 | 15.9% | 191 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.4% | 173 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 123 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 73 |
| 5 | Other defects | 3.0% | 36 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 21 |
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 | 341 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 594 | 9.4% |
| 90-120k | 174 | 19.5% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,129 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 75 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 12.0% |
| 2022 | 181 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 228 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 352 | 14.8% |
| 2025 | 368 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Alphard-
On a 2009 Alphard-, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.0% 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.
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 2009 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 1,204 2009 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).
Does the 2009 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 30-60k band to 22.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,204 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.