Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Toyota Alphard?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Toyota Alphard?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Toyota Alphard?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2004 Toyota Alphard vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2004 Toyota Alphard reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,565 vehicles, the 2004 Toyota Alphard has a first-time MOT pass rate of 79.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Alphard?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Toyota Alphard are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.3% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (34.3% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (28% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Toyota Alphard?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Toyota Alphard (2004)

1,565 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.1% first-time pass rate

2004 Toyota Alphard

CarHunch analysed 1,565 real MOT records for the 2004 Toyota Alphard. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Toyota Alphard passes its MOT at 79.1%, essentially in line with the UK average of 80%, but nearly four in ten of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significantly elevated concern for a nearly 20-year-old family van. Petrol and hybrid variants perform identically, both around 79% first-time pass rates, so fuel type offers no reliability advantage here.

These Alphards are averaging just under 100,000 miles for their age, which is typical wear, yet they're accumulating an average of 2.09 failures and 14.6 advisories per test, suggesting persistent minor and moderate issues across the fleet. If you're considering one, budget for regular remedial work, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks suspension, braking, and steering components (the usual culprits in vans this age), and factor in above-average maintenance costs.

The 2004 Toyota Alphard has a decent first-time pass rate (79.1%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

79.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

39%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.09

Over 8.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

97k

Middle half: 72k–121k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 14.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,565 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,565 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 35.3%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 28%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 27.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 26%

Nearside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn · Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 10.8%

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,565 Toyota Alphard cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Toyota Alphard

Based on MOT data from 1,565 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (92%)	1,432	79.1%	2.1
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (7%)	108	79.5%	1.87

Colour Breakdown

Based on 12,187 Toyota Alphard vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 48.9%

5,954

Black 20.1%

2,452

Silver 18%

2,195

Grey 6.5%

798

Blue 3.1%

372

Gold 1.5%

186

Green 0.6%

Maroon 0.4%

Purple 0.3%

Red 0.2%

Beige 0.2%

Bronze 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Toyota Alphard vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

97,101

typical

72,286

low mileage

120,987

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Toyota Alphard vehicles fall between 72,286 and 120,987 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 72,286 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 72,286–120,987 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Toyota Alphards sit.

⚠ Over 163,332 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Toyota Alphard — Still on the Road

Almost all 2004 Toyota Alphards are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,333 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.09

Avg failures per vehicle

14.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Alphard: All Alphard years → Which year to buy? →

2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Toyota →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Toyota Alphard stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing