2003 Alfa Romeo Gtv — MOT failures & pass rate
535 MOT tests on the 2003 Alfa Romeo Gtv are in this dataset, and 70.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), wipers and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 61 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.9% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.8% | 90 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 51 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 46 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.7% | 41 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 35 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 31 |
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) | 61 |
| 2 | Wipers | 30 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 29 |
| 4 | Joints | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.7% | 175 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.5% | 158 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.2% | 108 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 68 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.5% | 40 |
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 | 51 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 169 | 30.8% |
| 90-120k | 211 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 111 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 111 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 99 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 86 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Gtv
On a 2003 Gtv, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (16.8% 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 (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.6% 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 2003 Alfa Romeo Gtvs pass their MOT?
70.5% of the 535 2003 Alfa Romeo Gtv MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Alfa Romeo Gtv?
Brakes, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 2003 Gtv get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 535 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.