1999 Alfa Romeo 156 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Alfa Romeo 156 passed 69.9% of its 458 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 1999 156 comes out 7.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.0%) and suspension (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 86 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.4% versus 20.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.8% in 2021 to 32.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 64 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 62 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 12.0% | 55 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Brakes | 9.4% | 43 |
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 | 86 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 36 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 30 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 6 | Washers | 24 |
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 | 34.7% | 159 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 109 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 88 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.6% | 85 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.3% | 70 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 52 |
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 | 92 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118 | 34.8% |
| 2022 | 100 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 84 | 22.6% |
| 2024 | 77 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 79 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 156
On a 1999 156, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (12.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1999 Alfa Romeo 156s pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 458 1999 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Alfa Romeo 156?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by suspension (13.5%).
Does the 1999 156 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 30.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 458 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.