2006 Alfa Romeo Brera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Alfa Romeo Brera passed 71.0% of its 2,715 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the 2006 Brera comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rbt (sp) and malfunction indicator lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 248 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.5% once past 150k — 4.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (31.1% vs 28.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 26.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.8% | 429 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 298 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 261 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 218 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 148 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 146 |
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 | 248 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 142 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 107 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 103 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 103 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 99 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.4% | 879 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.3% | 713 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.8% | 673 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 423 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 375 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 273 |
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 | 37 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 269 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 908 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 859 | 30.1% |
| 120-150k | 455 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 186 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,877 | 28.0% |
| Diesel | 838 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 694 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 621 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 541 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 462 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 397 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Brera
On a 2006 Brera, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.8% 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 (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.6% 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 2006 Alfa Romeo Breras pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 2,715 2006 Alfa Romeo Brera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Alfa Romeo Brera?
Suspension, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.0%).
Does the 2006 Brera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,715 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.