Bertone beauty with a bargain price tag
A Bertone-styled front-wheel-drive coupe produced from 2003 to 2010, sharing its platform with the Alfa Romeo 156. It occupies a niche as an affordable, stylish Italian coupe on the UK used market, offering considerably more visual drama than similarly priced Vauxhall Astras or Hyundai Coupes. Values are rising for clean V6 examples as modern classic appeal grows.
We track 6 known issues across the Alfa Romeo GT range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Alfa Romeo GT? Enter the reg to see which of our 6 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
937 (2003–2010) — Petrol options included the 1.8 TBi, 2.0 JTS, 3.2 V6, with 1.9 JTD on the diesel side.
The GT suffers from severe structural corrosion around suspension mounting points and subframe attachment areas, particularly affecting the rear suspension mounting points and front subframe mounting areas. MOT data shows this model fails structural integrity tests at 842.4x the fleet average, with the problem worsening significantly after 60,000 miles. This is a known weakness shared with the 147/156 platform, where inadequate protection of structural steel leads to corrosion that compromises the mounting point integrity.
Structural failure around suspension mounting points creates an immediate safety risk and MOT failure. Repair requires cutting out corroded sections and welding in new metal, typically costing £800-£2,000 depending on extent. In severe cases the car may be beyond economical repair.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The 1.9 JTD diesel engine suffers from diesel particulate filter (DPF) blockage, with MOT data showing smoke opacity failures at The DPF system requires regular high-speed driving to burn off accumulated soot. Cars used for short journeys or urban driving experience chronic blockage, leading to limp mode, warning lights, and eventual emissions test failure.
Complete DPF blockage triggers limp mode and MOT failure. Professional DPF cleaning costs £200-£400. DPF replacement costs £800-£1,500. The car may be undriveable until repaired and will not pass MOT emissions tests.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
GT models suffer from accelerated corrosion of suspension components, with MOT data showing failures at 842.4x the fleet average. Lower wishbones, anti-roll bar links, and suspension arms are particularly affected. The Italian origin and inadequate corrosion protection leads to premature failure of steel suspension components, especially in UK salt-road conditions.
Corroded suspension components affect handling safety and cause MOT failure. Individual component replacement typically costs £100-£300 per side. Multiple components may need replacement simultaneously, with total costs reaching £800-£1,200 for comprehensive suspension refresh.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The GT suffers from widespread body corrosion issues typical of Italian cars from this era. Poor factory corrosion protection and thin steel panels make this model particularly susceptible to UK road salt and coastal conditions.
Extensive body corrosion leads to MOT failure and structural weakness. Cosmetic rust repair costs £300-£800 per panel. Structural repairs involving cutting and welding cost £800-£2,000 depending on extent. Advanced corrosion may render the car beyond economical repair.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The 2.0 JTS petrol engine experiences lambda sensor failures and emissions control issues, with MOT data showing failures at The JTS (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) direct injection system is sensitive to fuel quality and carbon build-up, leading to lambda sensor contamination and emissions test failures.
Failed lambda sensors cause MOT emissions failure and poor fuel economy. Lambda sensor replacement costs £100-£200. Carbon cleaning services cost £200-£400. The car will not pass MOT until emissions levels are corrected.
Check for any engine warning lights on the dashboard. Ask about the car's MOT emissions history — repeated failures suggest underlying issues. A pre-purchase diagnostic scan is especially worthwhile to check for stored emissions fault codes.
For the full breakdown of all 6 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Alfa Romeo GT common problems page.
Based on 13k real DVSA MOT tests, the Alfa Romeo GT fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 48x the fleet average, followed by structural corrosion (36x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Alfa Romeo GT MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 12k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£400–£600).
See the full Alfa Romeo GT service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Alfa Romeo GT has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2007-2010 facelift models are the sweet spot — improved interior quality, the refined 1.9 JTDm 16v engine, and availability of Q2 differential. For the V6, any year with documented timing belt history is acceptable. Avoid early 2004 Selespeed cars.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Alfa Romeo GT, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 6 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 6 known Alfa Romeo GT issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.