Alfa Romeo 147
From 2,787 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 147s fare better: 2009 models pass at 70% vs 64.5% for 2008.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 296 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 296 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 127 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 123 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 119 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 80 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 74 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 61 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 59 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 58 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 58 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.9% of 147 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 41.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
Alfa Romeo 147 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 528 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 527. At this rate, roughly 6.3 years until none remain. Now at 12.3% of its peak (27,042 in 2009 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,191 | 2,134 | +0 | -89 | -89 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,264 | 2,150 | +0 | -110 | -110 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,355 | 2,169 | +1 | -130 | -129 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,412 | 2,241 | +0 | -199 | -199 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,543 | 2,309 | +0 | -138 | -138 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,649 | 2,341 | +1 | -73 | -72 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,712 | 2,350 | +0 | -127 | -127 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,825 | 2,364 | +0 | -113 | -113 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 147 T Spark Lusso | Petrol | 307 | 36% |
| 147 V6 24V Gta | Petrol | 158 | 18% |
| 147 Collezione Ts | Petrol | 114 | 13% |
| 147 Ducati Corse Q2 Jtdm | Diesel | 92 | 11% |
| 147 Collezione Jtdm | Diesel | 68 | 8% |
| 147 Collezione T Spark | Petrol | 66 | 8% |
| 147 T Spark | Gas | 51 | 6% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 70% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 64.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2007 | 59% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 60% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
4 earlier years
| 2005 | 63% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2004 | 75.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2003 | 70.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2002 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
Typical mileage
Half of all 147s tested had between 81,071 and 114,437 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 98,638 median miles, the 147 has 0.035 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Alfa Romeo models
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 75.7% |
| Alfa Romeo Mito | 72.1% |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | 90% |
| Alfa Romeo 159 | 68.1% |
| Alfa Romeo Spider | 75.9% |
Common questions
What is the Alfa Romeo 147 MOT pass rate?
The Alfa Romeo 147 has a 65.6% MOT pass rate based on 2,787 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Alfa Romeo 147?
The most common MOT failure on the Alfa Romeo 147 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 296 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Alfa Romeo 147s are on UK roads?
There are 1,191 Alfa Romeo 147s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,134 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Alfa Romeo 147 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Alfa Romeo 147 is 98,638 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 81,071 and 114,437 miles.
Buying a used 147?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 65.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £142 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.