2017 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
3,090 MOT tests on the 2017 Toyota Alphard- are in this dataset, and 78.1% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 12.4% of the time, so this is 9.5pp 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 14.1% of tests against 6.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rear fog lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 222 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.8% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 21.3% of the time against 22.1% for hybrid.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 437 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 210 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.3% | 195 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 175 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 126 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 95 |
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 | 222 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 130 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 123 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 121 |
| 5 | Wipers | 102 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 99 |
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 | 36.6% | 1,130 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 767 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 673 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 550 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 270 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.2% | 254 |
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 | 43 | 14.0% |
| 30-60k | 321 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 878 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 877 | 21.0% |
| 120-150k | 625 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 343 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,491 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 595 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 662 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 696 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 685 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 519 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 528 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% 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 (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 2017 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 3,090 2017 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by suspension (6.8%).
Does the 2017 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.0% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,090 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.