2009 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 743 MOT tests, the 2009 Alfa Romeo Spider recorded an 82.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 2009 Spider comes out 8.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (6.7%) and lighting & signalling (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and rbt (sp) — coil spring alone was recorded 51 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.2% in the 90-120k band, a 17.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.2% in 2021 to 10.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 6.7% | 50 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 45 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 32 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.2% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 18 |
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 | 51 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 26 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 16 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Washers | 15 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13 |
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 | 21.0% | 156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 109 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.8% | 88 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 44 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 36 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 35 |
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 | 61 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 314 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 219 | 18.3% |
| 90-120k | 125 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 589 | 16.8% |
| Diesel | 154 | 18.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 161 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 158 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 152 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 139 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 133 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Spider
On a 2009 Spider, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (6.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 743 2009 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Suspension, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.1%).
Does the 2009 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 743 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.