2010 Alfa Romeo 159 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Alfa Romeo 159 passed 71.1% of its 4,729 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 20.7% of the time, so this is 8.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (12.6%) 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 headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 354 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.4% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.9pp more often than petrol ones (30.3% vs 24.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 636 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 596 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 521 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.9% | 328 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 323 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.7% | 175 |
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) | 354 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 321 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 203 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 188 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 182 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 169 |
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 | 29.5% | 1,396 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.6% | 1,258 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.7% | 1,120 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.9% | 990 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 423 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 372 |
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 | 207 | 20.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,002 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,451 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,222 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 829 | 33.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,567 | 30.3% |
| Petrol | 1,162 | 24.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,076 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 1,047 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 961 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 892 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 753 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2010 159
On a 2010 159, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.0% 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 2010 Alfa Romeo 159s pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 4,729 2010 Alfa Romeo 159 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Alfa Romeo 159?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.6%).
Does the 2010 159 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 30-60k band to 33.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,729 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.