2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT pass rate and common faults

142 MOT tests in 2024. 64.1% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

108Above average
Passed first time64.1%
Failed or needed repairs35.9%
Typical mileage at test95,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 142 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.6%
  2. Position lamp: not working5.6%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.9%
  4. Stop lamp: not working3.5%
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.5%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.5%
    7 marked dangerous
  7. Flexible brake hoses: excessively deteriorated2.8%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.8%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.1%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics23.2%
  2. Body & chassis14.8%
  3. Suspension12.0%
  4. Brakes12.0%
  5. Tyres5.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  7. Seat belts & airbags4.9%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.6%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.5%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened7.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2001 Alfa Romeo 156?

In 2024, 64.1% of 2001 Alfa Romeo 156 cars passed their MOT first time, across 142 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Alfa Romeo 156?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; position lamp: not working; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Alfa Romeo 156 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).