1998 Alfa Romeo Gtv — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 992 MOT tests, the 1998 Alfa Romeo Gtv recorded a 69.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 1998 Gtv comes out 5.0pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 8.8 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 126 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 32.0% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.6% in 2021 to 31.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.6% | 194 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 107 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 98 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 95 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 83 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 62 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 126 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 96 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 86 |
| 4 | Joints | 51 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 46 |
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 | 29.8% | 296 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 288 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.3% | 191 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 190 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.7% | 176 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 64 |
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 | 119 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 275 | 32.0% |
| 90-120k | 298 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 200 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 75 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 232 | 33.6% |
| 2022 | 223 | 34.1% |
| 2023 | 174 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 182 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 181 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Gtv
On a 1998 Gtv, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (19.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1998 Alfa Romeo Gtvs pass their MOT?
69.5% of the 992 1998 Alfa Romeo Gtv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Alfa Romeo Gtv?
Brakes, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.8%).
Does the 1998 Gtv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.9% in the 30-60k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 992 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.