Alfa Romeo 159 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Alfa Romeo 159 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 7,379 MOT tests across 7 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: premium | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
71%
Alfa Romeo 159 pass rate
80%
Alfa Romeo average
82%
All-model average
The Alfa Romeo 159 has an average MOT pass rate of 71%, which is 9 points below the Alfa Romeo average and 11 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Alfa Romeo 159s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Alfa Romeo 159 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 1,196 MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo 159 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.
Suspension
47%Cars and vans the same age: 41% · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
35%Cars and vans the same age: 25% (the 159 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Lights and electrics
35%Cars and vans the same age: 47% (the 159 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Tyres
20%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £50-£300
Body, chassis and structure
19%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (21% of failed tests, brakes)
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (16% of failed tests, suspension)
- Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength (12% of failed tests, suspension)
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 159 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each 159 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Alfa Romeo 159 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. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. 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 159 Running Costs
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Alfa Romeo 159 FAQ
What are the most common Alfa Romeo 159 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo 159 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (47% of the 1,196 failed tests), brakes (35%) and lights and electrics (35%). The single most common fault was "Parking brake efficiency below requirements" (21%). Across 7,379 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 71% ended in a pass.
Is the Alfa Romeo 159 reliable?
The Alfa Romeo 159 has an average MOT pass rate of 71%, from 7,379 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Alfa Romeo 159 years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2010 (71% of 1,406 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars), the 2007 (69% of 1,364 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars) and the 2008 (71% of 1,527 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Alfa Romeo 159 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on an Alfa Romeo 159 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