2016 Toyota Alphard 3.0L Petrol · AT53 MYY

The 2004 Toyota Alphard presents a largely stable maintenance trend across the past five MOT cycles, though the most recent test on 20 June 2025 at 162,191 miles introduced a notable advisory after four consecutive clean passes. The tester flagged the nearside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover as severely deteriorated, classified under section 5.3.4 (b) (i). This is a minor advisory rather than a failure, indicating the joint itself remains serviceable, but the compromised boot exposes the joint to road salt, grit, and moisture. Left unaddressed, accelerated wear of the ball joint could eventually introduce play and steering vagueness. The trend is therefore best described as stable but showing its first sign of neglect on a critical front-end component. The mileage accumulation is broadly consistent with typical use for a vehicle of this age. The record shows roughly 7,372 miles per year on average, with annual increments between 2,321 and 7,031 miles across the five-year window. The largest single-year jump occurred between June 2021 at 149,206 miles and June 2022 at 156,237 miles, a gain of 7,031 miles, suggesting heavier use during that period. No anomalous gaps or suspicious plateaus appear in the data, and the odometer progression reads as genuine and unbroken. The 2021 test on 12 June 2021 at 149,206 miles recorded an advisory for the offside rear inner tyre worn close to legal limit and worn on edge. This points to a localised alignment or suspension geometry issue on the rear axle, likely a toe or camber deviation causing uneven tyre wear. A prospective buyer should inspect the rear suspension bushes, toe links, and any adjustable rear alignment components for wear or damage. The front nearside ball joint dust cover advisory from 2025 should be examined in person to determine whether the joint has begun to knock or exhibit play, and whether the protective boot has been replaced since the test. Beyond the documented advisories, a buyer should conduct a thorough underbody inspection for corrosion, particularly on subframes, sills, and suspension mounting points, as a 22-year-old vehicle of this age is susceptible to structural deterioration regardless of mileage. The exhaust system, brake lines, and flexible hoses should also be checked for age-related perishing. The Alphard's maintenance record is otherwise reassuring, with four consecutive defect-free tests, but the two advisories suggest routine undercarriage inspections may have lagged slightly in recent years.