2009 Alfa Romeo 159 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 passed 70.3% of its 5,658 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.2 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.3%) and brakes (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), coil spring and tread depth — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 472 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.5pp more often than petrol ones (30.4% vs 25.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.3% | 868 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 700 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 674 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.4% | 473 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 375 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 266 |
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) | 472 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 441 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 269 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 234 |
| 5 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 204 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 202 |
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 | 31.6% | 1,791 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 1,635 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.6% | 1,393 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 766 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 524 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 505 |
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 | 261 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 930 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,838 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,611 | 31.2% |
| 150k+ | 997 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,833 | 30.4% |
| Petrol | 825 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,484 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 1,335 | 30.6% |
| 2023 | 1,171 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 918 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 750 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2009 159
On a 2009 159, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.3% 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 (12.4% 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 (11.9% 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 2009 Alfa Romeo 159s pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 5,658 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Alfa Romeo 159?
Suspension, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by brakes (12.4%).
Does the 2009 159 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.4% in the 30-60k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,658 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.