2010 Alfa Romeo Spider — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Alfa Romeo Spider passed 86.0% of its 587 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 10.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and suspension (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 22 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.1% once past 90-120k — 4.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 39 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 34 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.2% | 19 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.2% | 19 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 7 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 15 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 8 |
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 | 18.9% | 111 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.3% | 84 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 81 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 32 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.6% | 15 |
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 | 72 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 198 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 221 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 485 | 13.8% |
| Diesel | 102 | 14.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 121 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 117 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 114 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 109 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Spider
On a 2010 Spider, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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.
- Tyres (3.2% 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 2010 Alfa Romeo Spiders pass their MOT?
86.0% of the 587 2010 Alfa Romeo Spider MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Alfa Romeo Spider?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2010 Spider get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 587 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.