2016 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,669 MOT tests, the 2016 Toyota Alphard- recorded a 77.8% pass rate. That is 8.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 7.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 232 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.0% of the time against 22.3% for hybrid.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 405 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 203 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 168 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 134 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 112 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 91 |
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 | 232 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 160 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 106 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 95 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 93 |
| 6 | Wipers | 88 |
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 | 35.7% | 953 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.3% | 676 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.0% | 615 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.3% | 487 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 295 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 167 |
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 | 240 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 668 | 19.0% |
| 90-120k | 781 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 534 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 426 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,122 | 22.3% |
| Petrol | 540 | 22.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 575 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 596 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 602 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 444 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 452 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Alphard-
On a 2016 Alphard-, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.6% 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 (6.3% 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 2016 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 2,669 2016 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.6%).
Does the 2016 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 30-60k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,669 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.