1999 Alfa Romeo Gtv — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Alfa Romeo Gtv passed 68.0% of its 1,536 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 20.7% of tests against 10.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 240 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.9% versus 26.1%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.7% | 318 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.7% | 164 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 157 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 136 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 134 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.0% | 93 |
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) | 240 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 222 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 168 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 78 |
| 5 | Joints | 77 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 76 |
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 | 29.4% | 452 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.6% | 408 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.8% | 273 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.8% | 258 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.0% | 245 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.9% | 106 |
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 | 157 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 350 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 630 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 289 | 33.6% |
| 150k+ | 83 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 328 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 344 | 33.7% |
| 2023 | 311 | 33.1% |
| 2024 | 293 | 31.1% |
| 2025 | 260 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Gtv
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (20.7% 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 (10.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1999 Alfa Romeo Gtvs pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 1,536 1999 Alfa Romeo Gtv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Alfa Romeo Gtv?
Brakes, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by suspension (10.7%).
Does the 1999 Gtv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.1% in the 30-60k band to 34.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,536 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.