Used car guide

2003 Toyota Alphard: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Toyota Alphards, from 503 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

503MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,200typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Toyota Alphards than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    20.3% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Steering swivel joints10.1× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    11.1% All 2003 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 0.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Brake pads2× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    13.1% All 2003 cars
    6.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.5% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Rear fog light3.6× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    6.2% All 2003 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 1.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 4.4% here, against 18.3% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Toyota Alphard MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    28% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    27% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Toyota Alphard?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20081,182Suspension 32%
20071,637Suspension 35%
20061,421Suspension 37%
2005909Suspension 42%
2004873Suspension 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Toyota Alphards registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score