2013 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Toyota Alphard- passed 89.2% of its 833 recorded MOT tests. That is 10.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests against 4.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rear fog lamp and linkage ball joint dust cover — position lamp alone was recorded 34 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 15.4% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 17.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.0% in 2021 to 10.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 78 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 36 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.4% | 20 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 16 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 30 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 27 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 21 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
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 | 17.6% | 147 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.9% | 116 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 69 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 61 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 45 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.8% | 40 |
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 | 270 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 307 | 9.1% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 34 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 52 | 15.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 782 | 10.1% |
| Petrol | 51 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 75 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 122 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 229 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 352 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.3% 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.
- Tyres (2.4% 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 2013 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 833 2013 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by suspension (4.3%).
Does the 2013 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 30-60k band to 15.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 833 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.