1998 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,255 MOT tests, the 1998 Alfa Romeo Spider recorded a 71.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and catalyst emissions — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 126 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.4% in the 0-30k band and 45.0% in the 150k+ band, a 23.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.4% | 193 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 130 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 112 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 93 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 88 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.4% | 80 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 126 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 114 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 105 |
| 4 | Wipers | 75 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 59 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 46 |
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 | 34.7% | 435 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 348 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.6% | 259 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 206 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 204 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 97 |
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 | 42 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 212 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 434 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 411 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 45.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 329 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 253 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 256 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 210 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 207 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Spider
On a 1998 Spider, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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.
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 1998 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 1,255 1998 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Brakes, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.4%).
Does the 1998 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 45.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,255 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.