2004 Alfa Romeo 156 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,636 MOT tests, the 2004 Alfa Romeo 156 recorded a 71.5% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 4.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.9% of all tests — 7.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 189 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.7% versus 27.2%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (30.3% vs 27.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.9% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.1% | 181 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 147 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 143 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 136 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.9% | 129 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 189 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 110 |
| 3 | Washers | 97 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 79 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 78 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 77 |
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 | 33.5% | 548 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.7% | 436 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.7% | 371 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.2% | 331 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 271 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 268 |
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 | 151 | 27.2% |
| 60-90k | 471 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 419 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 341 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 230 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 973 | 27.3% |
| Diesel | 663 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 494 | 28.9% |
| 2022 | 372 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 308 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 257 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 205 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2004 156
On a 2004 156, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.1% 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.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 2004 Alfa Romeo 156s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 1,636 2004 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Alfa Romeo 156?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.9% of tests, followed by suspension (11.1%).
Does the 2004 156 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.2% in the 30-60k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,636 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.