Used car guide

2021 Toyota Alphard: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Toyota Alphards, from 410 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 410 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

410MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
19,800typical miles a year
15.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Toyota Alphards than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints15.1× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    16.6% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.2% of all 2021 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.

  • Headlights22.5× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    9% All 2021 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.4% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Link ball joint covers78× usual
    Toyota Alphard
    7.8% All 2021 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 0.1% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2021 Toyota Alphard MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    24% 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
    6% 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
    5% 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
2020482Suspension 36%
2019390Suspension 36%
2018397Suspension 39%
2017453Suspension 42%
2016385Suspension 42%
2015314Suspension 39%
2014237Suspension 23%
2013343Suspension 19%
2012394Suspension 21%
2011206Suspension 25%
2010461Suspension 27%
2009342Suspension 22%
20081,182Suspension 32%
20071,637Suspension 35%
20061,421Suspension 37%
2005909Suspension 42%
2004873Suspension 42%
2003503Suspension 42%
2002185Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Toyota Alphards registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score