1990 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider passed 81.3% of its 488 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, washers and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1990 Spider fails 17.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 30 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.7% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 19 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 17 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.3% | 16 |
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 | 33 |
| 2 | Washers | 23 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 16 |
| 5 | Non catalyst emissions | 14 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 13 |
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 | 28.1% | 137 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.9% | 68 |
| 4 | Steering | 11.1% | 54 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 43 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.6% | 32 |
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 | 90 | 17.8% |
| 30-60k | 95 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 21.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 109 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 103 | 21.4% |
| 2024 | 95 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 92 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Spider
On a 1990 Spider, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
- Visibility (5.7% 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.
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 1990 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
81.3% of the 488 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by brakes (6.2%).
Does the 1990 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 488 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.