2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT pass rate and common faults

158 MOT tests in 2024. 63.3% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

112Well above average
Passed first time63.3%
Failed or needed repairs36.7%
Typical mileage at test110,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 158 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  2. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.8%
  3. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.2%
  4. Position lamp: not working3.2%
  5. Stop lamp: not working2.5%
  6. Headlamp: not working on main beam2.5%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.5%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.5%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.5%
  10. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.9%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics24.1%
  2. Suspension17.1%
  3. Emissions & leaks13.3%
  4. Body & chassis9.5%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.6%
  6. Brakes5.1%
  7. Tyres4.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.8%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.6%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.7%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.7%
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases12.0%

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 - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2004 156All 156 years

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Alfa Romeo 156?

In 2024, 63.3% of 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 cars passed their MOT first time, across 158 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Alfa Romeo 156?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 112, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).