2006 Alfa Romeo 159 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,071 MOT tests, the 2006 Alfa Romeo 159 recorded a 68.4% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.5% fail rate), the 2006 159 comes out 8.1pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests against 13.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), coil spring and component mounting prescribed areas — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 174 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 35.6% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.4% fail against 34.2% for diesel, a 6.8-point gap across 2,071 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 33.0% in 2021 to 30.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.0% | 393 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 283 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 252 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 167 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.9% | 142 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 116 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 174 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 147 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 136 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 99 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 93 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 86 |
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% | 711 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.5% | 631 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.2% | 543 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 337 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 262 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.9% | 247 |
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 | 97 | 23.7% |
| 60-90k | 404 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 562 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 550 | 35.3% |
| 150k+ | 441 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,283 | 34.2% |
| Petrol | 788 | 27.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 691 | 33.0% |
| 2022 | 521 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 400 | 33.3% |
| 2024 | 260 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 199 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2006 159
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.0% 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 (13.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2006 Alfa Romeo 159s pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 2,071 2006 Alfa Romeo 159 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Alfa Romeo 159?
Suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by brakes (13.7%).
Does the 2006 159 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.7% in the 30-60k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,071 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.