2004 Alfa Romeo 147 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,580 MOT tests, the 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 recorded a 72.5% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 28.0%, so the 2004 147 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — washers alone was recorded 117 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.7% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.2% in 2021 to 23.5% 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% | 255 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.7% | 184 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.8% | 171 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 136 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 132 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.3% | 83 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 117 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 114 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 103 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 89 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 76 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 68 |
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 | 34.3% | 542 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 454 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.6% | 405 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 301 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 217 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.4% | 180 |
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 | 30 | 16.7% |
| 30-60k | 273 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 470 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 455 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 238 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 114 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,309 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 271 | 33.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 493 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 381 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 293 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 213 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 200 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 147
On a 2004 147, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (11.7% 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 (10.8% 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 2004 Alfa Romeo 147s pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 1,580 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (11.7%).
Does the 2004 147 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.7% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,580 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.