Alfa Romeo 147 Reliability and Common Problems
What the Alfa Romeo 147 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and its MOT pass rate for each model year. Based on 3,472 MOT tests across 9 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
70%
Alfa Romeo 147 pass rate
80%
Alfa Romeo average
82%
All-model average
The Alfa Romeo 147 has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, which is 10 points below the Alfa Romeo average and 12 points below the average across all models in our data. Older Alfa Romeo 147s tend to have better MOT pass rates than newer ones, with an average decline of 4 percentage points across model years.
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What the Alfa Romeo 147 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 585 MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo 147 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
39%Cars and vans the same age: 49% (the 147 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
38%Cars and vans the same age: 40% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
30%Cars and vans the same age: 28% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
24%Cars and vans the same age: 16% (the 147 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £10-£350
Body, chassis and structure
24%Cars and vans the same age: 20% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (14% of failed tests, suspension)
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (12% of failed tests, brakes)
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid (9.7% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Alfa Romeo 147 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Alfa Romeo 147 Running Costs
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Alfa Romeo 147 FAQ
What are the most common Alfa Romeo 147 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo 147 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (39% of the 585 failed tests), suspension (38%) and brakes (30%). The single most common fault was "Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn" (14%). Across 3,472 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 70% ended in a pass.
Is the Alfa Romeo 147 reliable?
The Alfa Romeo 147 has an average MOT pass rate of 70%, from 3,472 MOT tests. That is 12 points below the average across all models in our data (82%), so budget for potential repairs. Pass rates fall as cars age, so compare it with cars of a similar age.
Which year Alfa Romeo 147 is the most reliable?
Of the years with at least 100 tests that were old enough for a routine MOT, the 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 has the highest MOT pass rate: 78% of its 314 tests ended in a pass. The 2006 has the lowest at 66%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so the pass rate is only part of the picture.
How much does it cost to fix common Alfa Romeo 147 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on an Alfa Romeo 147 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Alfa Romeo Models
Common problems pages for other Alfa Romeo models