2020 Toyota Alphard- — MOT failures & pass rate
2,640 MOT tests on the 2020 Toyota Alphard- are in this dataset, and 80.3% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (7.9% fail rate), the 2020 Alphard- comes out 11.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests against 8.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, linkage ball joint dust cover and rear fog lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 150 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.5% in the 0-30k band and 22.2% in the 150k+ band, a 12.8-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 338 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.0% | 211 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 108 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 103 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 92 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 56 |
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 | 150 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 127 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 123 |
| 4 | Wipers | 89 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 84 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 77 |
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 | 30.1% | 796 |
| 2 | Tyres | 23.6% | 623 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.8% | 417 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 331 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 145 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.7% | 125 |
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 | 74 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 447 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,214 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 615 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 227 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 63 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 2,169 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 471 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 513 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 530 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 597 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 487 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 513 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Alphard-
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (4.1% 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 2020 Toyota Alphard-s pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 2,640 2020 Toyota Alphard- MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Toyota Alphard-?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by suspension (8.0%).
Does the 2020 Alphard- get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,640 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.