Alfa Romeo 159
From 6,414 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 159s fare better: 2012 models pass at 68% vs 65.2% for 2007.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 338 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.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 338 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 324 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 280 |
| 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 | 263 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 191 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 188 |
| smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit | 124 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 113 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 112 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 109 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 32.1% of 159 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 41.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £164.
Alfa Romeo 159 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 544 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 541. At this rate, roughly 7.2 years until none remain. Now at 41.3% of its peak (9,377 in 2012 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,329 | 1,544 | +0 | -118 | -118 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,470 | 1,521 | +0 | -136 | -136 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,623 | 1,504 | +2 | -128 | -126 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,738 | 1,515 | +1 | -162 | -161 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,943 | 1,471 | +0 | -120 | -120 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,086 | 1,448 | +0 | -153 | -153 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,273 | 1,414 | +1 | -135 | -134 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,448 | 1,373 | +0 | -143 | -143 |
13 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 159 Lusso 16V Jtdm 170 | Diesel | 282 | 16% |
| 159 Ti 16V Jtdm | Diesel | 223 | 13% |
| 159 Ti 16V Jtdm 170 | Diesel | 215 | 12% |
| 159 Lusso Jtdm | Diesel | 174 | 10% |
| 159 Ti Tbi | Petrol | 150 | 9% |
| 159 Ti Jtdm | Diesel | 133 | 8% |
| 159 Lusso 16V Jtdm | Diesel | 131 | 7% |
| 159 Lusso Tbi | Petrol | 108 | 6% |
| 159 Lusso Jtdm S-Wagon | Diesel | 98 | 6% |
| 159 Ti Jts | Petrol | 71 | 4% |
| 159 Lusso Jtdm 20V A | Diesel | 60 | 3% |
| 159 Lusso Jts | Petrol | 58 | 3% |
| 159 Limited Edition Jtdm | Diesel | 57 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 68% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 71.5% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2010 | 69.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2009 | 69.7% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
3 earlier years
| 2008 | 66.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2007 | 65.2% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2006 | 64.7% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
Typical mileage
Half of all 159s tested had between 96,459 and 142,786 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 125,836 median miles, the 159 has 0.025 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 Spider | 75.9% |
| Alfa Romeo Stelvio | 91.6% |
Common questions
What is the Alfa Romeo 159 MOT pass rate?
The Alfa Romeo 159 has a 68.1% MOT pass rate based on 6,414 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Alfa Romeo 159?
The most common MOT failure on the Alfa Romeo 159 is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 338 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Alfa Romeo 159s are on UK roads?
There are 2,329 Alfa Romeo 159s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,544 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Alfa Romeo 159 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Alfa Romeo 159 is 125,836 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 96,459 and 142,786 miles.
Buying a used 159?
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 68.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £164 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 32.1% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.