2018 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
2,637 MOT tests on the 2018 Toyota Alphard- are in this dataset, and 79.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 10.8% of the time, so this is 9.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.8% of all tests — 4.9 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 wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 190 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.6% versus 10.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 338 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 210 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.6% | 147 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 124 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.1% | 109 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 60 |
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 | 190 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 108 |
| 3 | Wipers | 93 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 93 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 92 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 85 |
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 | 32.8% | 866 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.9% | 682 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.5% | 542 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 410 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 208 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.7% | 151 |
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 | 57 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 247 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 968 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 780 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 393 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 192 | 26.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,142 | 20.3% |
| Petrol | 492 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 566 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 581 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 581 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 443 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 466 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Alphard-
On a 2018 Alphard-, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.0% 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 (5.6% 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 2018 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 2,637 2018 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.0%).
Does the 2018 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 26.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,637 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.