1997 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,210 MOT tests, the 1997 Alfa Romeo Spider recorded a 72.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 17.7% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and rbt (sp) — service brake performance alone was recorded 164 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 41.2% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.1% in 2021 to 23.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.7% | 214 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 128 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.0% | 109 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 98 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 83 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.5% | 79 |
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 | 164 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 130 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 115 |
| 4 | Washers | 50 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 49 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 48 |
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 | 32.2% | 390 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.8% | 373 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 209 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.0% | 193 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.5% | 188 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 81 |
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 | 45 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 181 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 362 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 432 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 150 | 26.0% |
| 150k+ | 34 | 41.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 311 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 269 | 27.1% |
| 2023 | 237 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 201 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 192 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Spider
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (17.7% 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 (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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.
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 1997 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 1,210 1997 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Brakes, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.6%).
Does the 1997 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 41.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,210 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.