2007 Alfa Romeo 147 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,720 MOT tests on the 2007 Alfa Romeo 147 are in this dataset, and 68.9% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.2%) and lighting & signalling (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — pins and bushes alone was recorded 254 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 40.1% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.0% fail against 33.6% for diesel, a 4.6-point gap across 2,720 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 467 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 393 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.9% | 323 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 223 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 214 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.9% | 187 |
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 | 254 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 204 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 189 |
| 4 | Washers | 187 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 146 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 122 |
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 | 39.4% | 1,071 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 792 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.1% | 736 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.0% | 462 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.2% | 305 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.3% | 279 |
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 | 38 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 301 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 777 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 918 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 488 | 34.0% |
| 150k+ | 197 | 40.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,477 | 29.0% |
| Diesel | 1,243 | 33.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 837 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 674 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 524 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 399 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 286 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2007 147
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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 2007 Alfa Romeo 147s pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 2,720 2007 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Alfa Romeo 147?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.4%).
Does the 2007 147 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 40.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,720 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.