2008 Alfa Romeo 147 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,251 MOT tests, the 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 recorded a 70.6% pass rate. That is 3.3 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.6% of all tests — 3.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and washers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 319 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.7pp more often than petrol ones (31.5% vs 25.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.6% | 507 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 388 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.5% | 343 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.0% | 260 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 225 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 214 |
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 | 319 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 209 |
| 3 | Washers | 203 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 172 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 166 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 135 |
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% | 1,114 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.4% | 925 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.3% | 823 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 545 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.8% | 384 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 301 |
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 | 36 | 22.2% |
| 30-60k | 300 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 968 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,150 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 508 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 286 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,029 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 1,222 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 951 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 808 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 641 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 490 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 361 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 147
On a 2008 147, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.6% 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 (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% 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 2008 Alfa Romeo 147s pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 3,251 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Alfa Romeo 147?
Suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.9%).
Does the 2008 147 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,251 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.