2006 Alfa Romeo 147 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Alfa Romeo 147 passed 68.4% of its 1,985 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 17.8% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, washers and component mounting prescribed areas — pins and bushes alone was recorded 171 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 36.5% versus 26.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.8pp more often than petrol ones (34.6% vs 29.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.2% in 2021 to 29.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.8% | 354 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 284 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 259 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.2% | 163 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 160 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.3% | 126 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 171 |
| 2 | Washers | 133 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 123 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 120 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 119 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 91 |
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 | 39.0% | 774 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.9% | 593 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.7% | 550 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.2% | 361 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 243 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 210 |
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 | 257 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 618 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 600 | 34.5% |
| 120-150k | 350 | 36.9% |
| 150k+ | 137 | 36.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,263 | 29.8% |
| Diesel | 722 | 34.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 616 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 476 | 30.9% |
| 2023 | 385 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 295 | 33.6% |
| 2025 | 213 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 147
On a 2006 147, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% 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 2006 Alfa Romeo 147s pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 1,985 2006 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Alfa Romeo 147?
Suspension, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.3%).
Does the 2006 147 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.1% in the 30-60k band to 36.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,985 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.