2002 Alfa Romeo 147 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,230 MOT tests on the 2002 Alfa Romeo 147 are in this dataset, and 69.8% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), the 2002 147 comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.5% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 143 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.8% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.2% in 2021 to 23.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 240 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 179 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 113 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.2% | 113 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 8.6% | 106 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 96 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 143 |
| 2 | Washers | 91 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 89 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 84 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 71 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 64 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.2% | 470 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.6% | 377 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.2% | 371 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.9% | 318 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 237 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.8% | 219 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 40 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 202 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 377 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 370 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 159 | 35.9% |
| 150k+ | 81 | 35.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 433 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 308 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 224 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 157 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 108 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2002 147
On a 2002 147, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Alfa Romeo 147s pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 1,230 2002 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Alfa Romeo 147?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by suspension (14.5%).
Does the 2002 147 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 35.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,230 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.