Is Toyota Alphard hybrid unreliable before 2008?

[Ivan Zima]

Hello dear forumchane.

I'm going to become the owner of a Toyota Alphard hybrid.  

I wanted to buy a hybrid, until 2008. To save on fuel. I'm going to travel to Scotland often.
But while reading the forum, I realized that you can buy a car and get spare inventory that costs £ 5,200, or just stay somewhere in Scotland where no one can help me repair the car.

And this prospect does not please me. 
Please tell me, is it worth buying a hybrid?

Edited April 25 by Ivan Zima

[Rojie]

2 minutes ago, Ivan Zima said:

Привіт шановні форумчани.

Я збираюся стати власником Toyota Alphard hybrid.  

Хотів купити гібрид, до 2008 року. Щоб заощадити на паливі. Я збираюся часто подорожувати до Шотландії.
Але я читав форум, я зрозумів, що ви можете купити машину і отримати запасний інвентар, який коштує 5200 фунтів, або просто залишитися десь у Шотландії, де ніхто не може допомогти мені з ремонтом машини.

І ця перспектива мене не тішить. 
Скажіть, будь ласка, чи варто купувати Гібрид?

 

Hello Ivan,

 

Будь ласка, спробуйте надалі писати англійською мовою, багато хто з наших учасників не обов’язково знатимуть, як перекладати вашу тему.

 

Please try and write in English in future, many of our members will not, necessarily, know how to translate your thread.

 

Hello, dear forum members.

I am going to become the owner of a Toyota Alphard hybrid.

I wanted to buy a hybrid, before 2008. To save on fuel. I intend to travel to Scotland often.
But I read the forum, I realized that you can buy the car and get a spare which costs £5200, or just stay somewhere in Scotland where no one can help me fix the car.

And this prospect does not please me.
Tell me, please, should I buy a Hybrid?

[Rojie]

Hello Ivan,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Replacement batteries, should you need them, can cost up to several thousand pounds.

 

There does seem to be a scarcity of capable mechanics who can (or will) work on them successfully.

Repair can be much cheaper, but then you need the hybrid technicians, as above.

 

In my opinion, in the more remote parts of Scotland it will be very difficult; if not impossible.

 

Nearer the urban centres could still present some challenges.

 

Personally, with your intended journeys I would avoid a Generation 1 Hybrid.

 

I am sure you will get several other replies from other members.

 

 

[Picasso]

i personaly steer clear of a early hybrid anything upto 2008 parts are exspensive for any part to do with the hybid system 

[Ivan Zima]

5 minutes ago, Picasso said:

i personaly steer clear of a early hybrid anything upto 2008 parts are exspensive for any part to do with the hybid system 

Thanks for the advice.  Have there been fewer problems with the hybrid battery since 2008? maybe I should raise more money to buy a newer car?

[Michael Brown]

I'd always fancied a Hybrid, so after looking at many I bought my 2007 Hybrid in August 2022 and yes I had a few teething problems. After all a Alphard which was 15 going on 16 years old back then you'd expect a few problems. I broke down and the RAC ferried me home twice. ( Best investment I made in 1982 by joining with recovery ). First time the 12volt battery had to be changed, second time the Inverter went. The chap I used was Peter Holland at Bright Spark Autos in Southbourne nr Emsworth, West Sussex Hampshire border. Peter said he could not source the parts needed to replace damaged Inverter, but he could order a new one from Toyota in Japan, but he needed the money upfront to order it. £5,200. inc vat and delivery + a fitting charge. I don't have that kind of money so I took out a bank loan in April 2023 and it was ordered. Peter said about 10 days, it took two and a half weeks to arrive. Then £352 to fit it and set it up. Like giving her a new heart. I should get around 10 years of trouble free motoring, Touch wood not had a problem since. I have driven up to Scotland and back 4 times in the last year and Warwickshire and back practically every week. Its a dream to drive and I get 32 - 40mpg

 

So good luck and happy hunting

[PaulE]

It would be interesting to see how many Forum members have a hybrid especially series1 and how many have had issues with the hybrid system and at what mileage.

A hybrid battery should last 200,00 miles but not without some attention within that time and getting to find someone who is capable and willing to repair/ service them correctly is a big issue ( I suspect it is an issue with all EV cars new and old). My battery needed repair at about 67000 miles and I was lucky to get Mark at Hybrid repairs Torquay to do it and the vehicle was down for 3 months it also needed a new inverter pump shortly after but that might be the interval when servicing is needed. Since then the vehicle has been very good except having to recently change the V belt tensioner which took a while to get. 

I would consider a 2.4 petrol version if you are put off the hybrid as these are more likely to be repaired by most garages and give good mileage.

[Ivan Zima]

Thank you all very much for your advice. I decided to buy 2,4. Now I'm looking for where to buy.

[MarkATH10W]

My 2003 2.4 Hybrid blew up after a month of use.  metal in engine oil.  Got it towed to a japanese shop where I saw another Alphard Hybrid of the same generation getting worked on, apparently its transmission failed.

 

Comically, we were on the same stretch of highway for both failures.  I wrote mine off, now I own a gen 1 V6 (gen 2s aren't available to use for import yet).  So steep incline at motorway speeds killed both our vehicles (120km/h).

 

Id like to try a gen 2 hybrid if I can confirm that they are more reliable.

 

[Michael Brown]

Sorry to hear of your loss. It would be interesting to know at what years the Alphard was updated, revamped.

 

The only major problem I have had is the Inverter was replaced. The man I used was Peter Holland at Brightspark Autos, he imported one for me from Japan, Cost £5,200. inc VAT and delivery + a fitting and set up charge around £320. I have had no more trouble for over a year now apart from 2 punctures.

 

 

[MarkATH10W]

Heads up.  The used option is an option as well.  The inverter themselves are very affordable.  Shipping is expensive so look at all options; my exporter can buy this part and ship for about 1/3rd the cost.

 

[smurf]

I don't think that is the inverter that Michael is talking about. That is the inverter for the in car 100VAC supply to the sockets.

 

The £5k inverter is in the engine bay and handles all the power going between the motor/generators and the hybrid battery. 

[MarkATH10W]

Thank you for letting me know. 

 

Given how expensive they are, any thoughts on purchasing these used vs new?

 

https://autoparts.beforward.jp/detail/Cooling-Components/Other-A-C-Parts/PA98133944/?buynow=1

[smurf]

I suppose like any used part, it has had a life before you purchase it and you know nothing about that life generally.  We are slightly better off in the UK as at least there have been quite a number of the hybrids imported, and there are a few specialists now cropping up that will happily work on them, so we probably wouldn't have to buy an unknown used inverter from Japan as they are available locally. That brings a level of protection against buying a duff one.