2005 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 368 MOT tests, the 2005 Alfa Romeo Spider recorded a 78.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.6% of the time, so this is 5.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 12.2% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 39 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.2% | 45 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 26 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 15 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 10 |
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) | 39 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 19 |
| 3 | Wipers | 12 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Washers | 10 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 10 |
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 | 28.3% | 104 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 75 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.2% | 56 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 25 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 23 |
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 | 122 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 176 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 83 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 71 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 62 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 66 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Spider
On a 2005 Spider, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (5.4% 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 2005 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 368 2005 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Brakes, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (7.1%).
Does the 2005 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.4% in the 30-60k band to 23.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 368 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.