2000 Alfa Romeo 156 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Alfa Romeo 156 passed 68.9% of its 822 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.7% fail rate), the 2000 156 comes out 7.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.1%) and suspension (12.9%) 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 component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 124 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 44.6% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 124 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 106 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.6% | 95 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 91 |
| 5 | Brakes | 9.0% | 74 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.9% | 57 |
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 | 124 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 84 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 64 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 46 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 46 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 34 |
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% | 269 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 217 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.4% | 168 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.9% | 147 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 122 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.8% | 105 |
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 | 141 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 256 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 184 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 139 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 92 | 44.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 777 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 45 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 227 | 33.5% |
| 2022 | 189 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 166 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 131 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 109 | 34.9% |
What to check before buying a 2000 156
On a 2000 156, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% 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 (11.6% 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 2000 Alfa Romeo 156s pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 822 2000 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Alfa Romeo 156?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (12.9%).
Does the 2000 156 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 30-60k band to 44.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 822 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.