1989 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 435 MOT tests, the 1989 Alfa Romeo Spider recorded a 76.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), the 1989 Spider comes out 1.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.9% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, washers and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 37 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.2% versus 14.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.6% in 2021 to 21.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 65 |
| 2 | Visibility | 9.7% | 42 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 41 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 37 |
| 2 | Washers | 37 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 25 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 18 |
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 | 32.2% | 140 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 27.8% | 121 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.7% | 90 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.2% | 66 |
| 5 | Steering | 12.6% | 55 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 48 |
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 | 64 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 160 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 34.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 94 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 96 | 22.9% |
| 2024 | 85 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 74 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Spider
On a 1989 Spider, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (9.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% 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 1989 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 435 1989 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by visibility (9.7%).
Does the 1989 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.1% in the 30-60k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 435 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.