1997 Alfa Romeo Gtv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Alfa Romeo Gtv passed 73.5% of its 373 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.3%) and suspension (9.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and position lamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 51 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.2% in the 30-60k band and 36.1% in the 150k+ band, a 19.9-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.4% in 2021 to 24.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.3% | 46 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 35 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 35 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 28 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 51 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 16 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 14 |
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 | 34.8% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.8% | 126 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.8% | 70 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 59 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 50 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 33 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 37 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 138 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 115 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 36.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 69 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 74 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 76 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 66 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Gtv
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (12.3% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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 (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1997 Alfa Romeo Gtvs pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 373 1997 Alfa Romeo Gtv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Alfa Romeo Gtv?
Brakes, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 1997 Gtv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.2% in the 30-60k band to 36.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 373 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.