2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta — MOT failures & pass rate
22,379 MOT tests on the 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta are in this dataset, and 75.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 3.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are side repeaters, headlamp and headlamp aim — side repeaters alone was recorded 1,216 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.9% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.4% fail against 25.7% for diesel, a 3.3-point gap across 22,379 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 3,052 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 2,198 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 1,577 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 1,177 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 858 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 769 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Side repeaters | 1,216 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,010 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 978 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 926 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 883 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 845 |
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 | 28.8% | 6,452 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 6,030 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 5,426 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 2,417 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.3% | 1,851 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 1,505 |
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 | 318 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,079 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 7,614 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 7,129 | 26.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,080 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,158 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,142 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 9,237 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,663 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 4,675 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 4,560 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 4,361 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 4,120 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Giulietta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% 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.
- Tyres (7.0% 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
How many 2012 Alfa Romeo Giuliettas pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 22,379 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 2012 Giulietta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,379 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.