2009 Alfa Romeo Brera — MOT failures & pass rate
2,671 MOT tests on the 2009 Alfa Romeo Brera are in this dataset, and 78.4% of them passed. That is 3.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and suspension (8.9%) 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 exhaust system — coil spring alone was recorded 197 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.3% versus 11.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.0% fail against 26.9% for diesel, a 6.8-point gap across 2,671 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 254 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 237 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 175 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 163 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.3% | 116 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 100 |
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 | 197 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 99 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 82 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 76 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 75 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 70 |
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 | 22.5% | 600 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 554 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.4% | 546 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 306 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 242 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 199 |
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 | 52 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 488 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,108 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 689 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 242 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 90 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,053 | 20.0% |
| Diesel | 618 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 573 | 20.6% |
| 2022 | 577 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 540 | 23.0% |
| 2024 | 514 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 467 | 19.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Brera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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 (6.6% 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 2009 Alfa Romeo Breras pass their MOT?
78.4% of the 2,671 2009 Alfa Romeo Brera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Alfa Romeo Brera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 2009 Brera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,671 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.