2015 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Toyota Alphard- passed 77.7% of its 1,917 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 16.3% of the time, so this is 6.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests against 7.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 184 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.4% versus 15.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.5% in 2021 to 20.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 300 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 140 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 115 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 91 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 72 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 52 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 184 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 112 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 87 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 65 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 63 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 51 |
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 | 40.2% | 770 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.9% | 496 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.3% | 446 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 351 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 256 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 145 |
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 | 145 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 459 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 556 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 377 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 358 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,520 | 22.0% |
| Petrol | 392 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 408 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 404 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 406 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 342 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 357 | 20.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.3% 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.
- Brakes (6.0% 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 2015 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 1,917 2015 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2015 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,917 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.