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What to check: Toyota Alphard

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Ranked across all years of the Toyota Alphard, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 29.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 11.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.3%

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 10.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 8.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Brake pipes underneathRuns high on this modelFollow the metal brake lines with a torch where they run along the sills and over the rear axle. White crust or flaking metal means they are corroding, and the online MOT history usually shows the same advisory creeping up for years before the fail.Recorded on 8.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.9%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 4.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 4.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 28.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 12.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 3.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Pull the full MOT history, not just the pass or fail.Repeated advisories for anti-roll bar links or suspension bushes point to the front-end wear pattern owners report.

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for vague steering at low speed.Both are the everyday symptom of the worn bushes and links behind the suspension advisories.

Ask if the thermostat has ever been replaced, and with what part.An aftermarket thermostat that will not open fully can leave the engine running hot without an obvious warning light.

On the test drive, pull away gently in Drive and try a few low-speed stop-starts.Jerking, hunting between gears, or the engine light coming on with revs flaring suggests the gearbox issue some owners have reported.

If the car has air suspension, look at it side-on and side-to-side before and after a short drive.A car sitting low on one corner, or a compressor that keeps running, points to a failing air spring or compressor.

Get underneath with a torch, or ask the seller for photos of the underbody and sills.Patchy or missing underseal and early corrosion suggest the import was not properly protected on arrival.

Ask for the import paperwork and first UK service record together.A long gap between import date and first UK service is a red flag for both rust and skipped maintenance.

Full Toyota Alphard reliability report