2008 Alfa Romeo 159 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,473 MOT tests on the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 are in this dataset, and 69.7% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 7.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 12.7% 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 466 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.1% in the 30-60k band and 31.9% in the 150k+ band, a 11.8-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 28.3% fail against 30.6% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 5,473 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 31.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.4% | 895 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 695 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 605 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.8% | 426 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 339 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 314 |
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) | 466 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 421 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 333 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 283 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 231 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 190 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 31.2% | 1,710 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.2% | 1,706 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.8% | 1,358 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 790 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 700 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 550 |
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 | 144 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 763 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,622 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,725 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,190 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,753 | 30.6% |
| Petrol | 720 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,558 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 1,330 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 1,087 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 835 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 663 | 32.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 159
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.4% 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 (12.7% 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 (11.1% 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 2008 Alfa Romeo 159s pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 5,473 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?
Suspension, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by brakes (12.7%).
Does the 2008 159 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.1% in the 30-60k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,473 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.