2017 Alfa Romeo Mito — MOT failures & pass rate
4,450 MOT tests on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Mito are in this dataset, and 81.8% of them passed. That is 4.8 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 13.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.9%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, wipers and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 330 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.9% versus 13.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 17.5% of the time against 18.4% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.9% | 352 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 235 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 186 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 180 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 173 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.6% | 72 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 330 |
| 2 | Wipers | 132 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 122 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 111 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 93 |
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 | 24.8% | 1,102 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 1,094 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.5% | 378 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 262 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.0% | 177 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 107 |
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 | 1,541 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,246 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 571 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 67 | 17.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,837 | 18.4% |
| Diesel | 612 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 865 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 870 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 883 | 19.3% |
| 2024 | 922 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 910 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Mito
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (4.2% 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.
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 2017 Alfa Romeo Mitos pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 4,450 2017 Alfa Romeo Mito MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Alfa Romeo Mito?
Suspension, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2017 Mito get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,450 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.