2003 Alfa Romeo 147 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,772 MOT tests, the 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 recorded a 74.5% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 9.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 124 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.9% versus 20.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 22.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 286 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 153 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.7% | 137 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 133 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 79 |
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 | 124 |
| 2 | Washers | 107 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 97 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 90 |
| 5 | Wipers | 56 |
| 6 | Joints | 53 |
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 | 29.0% | 514 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 493 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 436 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 322 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 273 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.9% | 194 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 275 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 586 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 520 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 218 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 152 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,517 | 24.5% |
| Diesel | 255 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 564 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 409 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 318 | 23.9% |
| 2024 | 257 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 224 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2003 147
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 (8.6% 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 2003 Alfa Romeo 147s pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 1,772 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Alfa Romeo 147?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2003 147 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 30-60k band to 32.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,772 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.