Alfa Romeo 4C MOT pass rate & common failures
2,284 MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo 4C (2014–2019) give it a 92.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 14.9% of the time, so this is 7.3pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are other defects, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — other defects (2.7%) and lighting & signalling (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — registration plates alone was recorded 68 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 10.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 4C model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 506 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Other defects |
| 2015 | 361 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Other defects |
| 2016 | 642 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 675 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Other defects |
| 2018 | 88 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other defects | 2.7% | 62 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 49 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.1% | 49 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 43 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 38 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.0% | 23 |
| 7 | Suspension | 1.0% | 22 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 68 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 58 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 39 |
| 5 | Washers | 34 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 17 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 14 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
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 | 10.2% | 232 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 74 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.2% | 51 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.3% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.1% | 26 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 10 |
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 | 2,040 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 214 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 470 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 477 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 451 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 432 | 5.6% |
| 2025 | 454 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a Alfa Romeo 4C
- Other defects (2.7% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Alfa Romeo 4C?
92.4% of the 2,284 Alfa Romeo 4C MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.6% fail rate, across model years 2014–2019.
What does the Alfa Romeo 4C most often fail its MOT on?
Other defects, recorded in 2.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.1%).
Methodology & source. Based on 2,284 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.