1998 Alfa Romeo 156 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 309 MOT tests, the 1998 Alfa Romeo 156 recorded a 74.8% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the 1998 156 comes out 2.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.6%) and body, structure & corrosion (10.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 50 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 156 fails 26.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 29.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 39 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.4% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.4% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 50 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 4 | Joints | 15 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 13 |
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 | 32.7% | 101 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 56 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.5% | 54 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 49 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.9% | 43 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.4% | 26 |
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 | 49 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 29.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 21.6% |
| 2022 | 61 | 21.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 58 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 56 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 1998 156
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (9.7% 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.
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 1998 Alfa Romeo 156s pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 309 1998 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Alfa Romeo 156?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.4%).
Does the 1998 156 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.5% in the 30-60k band to 29.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 309 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.