2012 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
1,011 MOT tests on the 2012 Toyota Alphard- are in this dataset, and 87.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.3% fail rate), the 2012 Alphard- comes out 10.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.9% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.4% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 15.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 90 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 59 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 25 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.2% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 19 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 6 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 39 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 33 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 19 |
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 | 15.7% | 159 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.0% | 111 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 82 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 32 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.7% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 11 |
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 | 31 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 342 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 491 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 13.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 70 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 200 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 304 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 413 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Alphard-
On a 2012 Alphard-, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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 (2.5% 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 2012 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 1,011 2012 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.9% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2012 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,011 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.