2003 Toyota Alphard 3.0L Petrol · WL52 WHJ

The 2003 Toyota Alphard presents a mixed mechanical picture. The most recent MOT on 20 May 2026 at 118,346 miles passed, but only after a failure the previous day at the identical mileage. That failure-to-pass sequence reveals a pattern of reactive rather than proactive maintenance. Headlamp aim was corrected between tests, yet the underlying suspension wear remains unresolved. Both front lower suspension arm rear bushes have been flagged as worn across three consecutive tests since 2025, with the condition persisting despite the pass. The nearside and offside front tyres repeatedly show inner edge wear, a classic indicator of misaligned front geometry or worn suspension components allowing excessive camber change. The trend is not improving. Deterioration is being managed at the minimum legal threshold rather than genuinely addressed. The mileage profile tells its own story. At 118,346 miles over roughly 23 years, the annual average sits around 5,145 miles, well below the typical UK figure. The record shows 104,361 miles in May 2023, 107,515 in May 2024, 112,151 in May 2025, and 118,346 in May 2026. That is a steady accumulation of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 miles per year recently, suggesting the vehicle is now being used more regularly after what may have been a period of very light use or standing. The 2024 and 2023 tests were completely clean, which is notable. The cluster of advisories emerging from 2025 onward coincides with this uptick in usage, implying the car sat or was driven very little for extended periods, then returned to regular service without a thorough mechanical refresh. A buyer should treat the front suspension as the primary concern. The recurring flagged items, lower arm rear bushes and anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers, point to a front end that has seen age-related deterioration rather than catastrophic failure. Rubber components on a 2003 vehicle will naturally degrade, but the persistence of these advisories across multiple years suggests replacement has been repeatedly deferred. The inner edge tyre wear demands a proper four-wheel alignment check and close inspection of front suspension geometry, including tracking rod ends and strut top mounts. Rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin in 2025, and while no recent brake defects appear, the low annual mileage means corrosion on brake discs and calipers from standing periods is a genuine risk that a short test drive may not reveal. Inspect the underside for surface corrosion on suspension mounting points and subframes, particularly if the vehicle has spent time stationary in damp conditions. The headlamp aim issue was resolved between the 2026 failure and pass, but verify the aim is stable and that the adjusters have not seized, a common fault on older Toyota units.