2005 Alfa Romeo 156 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,369 MOT tests on the 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 are in this dataset, and 69.2% of them passed. That is 6.8 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests against 14.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 179 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 22.8% in the 30-60k band and 33.6% in the 150k+ band, a 10.8-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 28.0% fail against 33.2% for diesel, a 5.2-point gap across 1,369 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.5% in 2021 to 26.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.0% | 274 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 195 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.7% | 133 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 131 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 117 |
| 6 | Visibility | 8.4% | 115 |
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 | 179 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 107 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 90 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 88 |
| 5 | Washers | 78 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 64 |
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% | 470 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.7% | 352 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.5% | 322 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 247 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.6% | 227 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.1% | 221 |
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 | 158 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 225 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 403 | 32.0% |
| 120-150k | 311 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 262 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 754 | 33.2% |
| Petrol | 615 | 28.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 423 | 35.5% |
| 2022 | 317 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 273 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 201 | 24.4% |
| 2025 | 155 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 156
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.2% 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 (9.7% 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 2005 Alfa Romeo 156s pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 1,369 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Alfa Romeo 156?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.0% of tests, followed by suspension (14.2%).
Does the 2005 156 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 30-60k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,369 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.