2011 Alfa Romeo 159 — MOT failures & pass rate
3,072 MOT tests on the 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 are in this dataset, and 73.1% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 19.6% of the time, so this is 7.3pp 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 (12.8%) and lighting & signalling (11.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rbt (sp) and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 252 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.3% versus 16.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.8% | 394 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 353 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 308 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.4% | 229 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 135 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 118 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 252 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 199 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 132 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 112 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 109 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 106 |
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 | 30.6% | 941 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.4% | 749 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.9% | 705 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.0% | 614 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.0% | 245 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 223 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 31 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 143 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 701 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,058 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 754 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 385 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,646 | 27.9% |
| Petrol | 426 | 20.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 684 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 661 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 643 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 592 | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 492 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 159
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 2011 Alfa Romeo 159s pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 3,072 2011 Alfa Romeo 159 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Alfa Romeo 159?
Suspension, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.5%).
Does the 2011 159 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,072 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.