1992 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
338 MOT tests on the 1992 Alfa Romeo Spider are in this dataset, and 76.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 22.7%, so the 1992 Spider sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Spider fails 22.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 19.4% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 45 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.7% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 14 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 25 |
| 3 | Washers | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 17 |
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 | 32.3% | 109 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 19.8% | 67 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 45 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.3% | 28 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 21 |
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 | 92 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 67 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 75 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 71 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 78 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Spider
On a 1992 Spider, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.2% 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 (7.7% 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 1992 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 338 1992 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by brakes (9.2%).
Does the 1992 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.8% in the 30-60k band to 19.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 338 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.