2008 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Alfa Romeo Spider passed 80.1% of its 3,432 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests against 6.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 263 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 120-150k — 2.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.4% fail against 22.0% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 3,432 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.3% | 319 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 216 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 206 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 163 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 134 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 80 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 263 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 118 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 99 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 91 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 78 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 73 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.7% | 848 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 624 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.8% | 576 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 276 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 203 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 171 |
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 | 254 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,129 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,382 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 566 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 84 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,814 | 19.4% |
| Diesel | 618 | 22.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 735 | 20.4% |
| 2022 | 716 | 18.4% |
| 2023 | 700 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 638 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 643 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Spider
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 9.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (9.3% 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.
- Brakes (6.3% 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 (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2008 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 3,432 2008 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Suspension, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.3%).
Does the 2008 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,432 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.