Alfa Romeo 147 MOT Failures
An analysis of 37,445 real DVSA MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo 147 — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: 937 (2001–2010).
Where the Alfa Romeo 147 fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Alfa Romeo 147 is cable damaged or knotted — this model is 39 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 37,445 MOT tests, 2.71% of all Alfa Romeo 147 tests recorded this as a failure.
Brake failures on the MOT range from worn pads and discs (routine maintenance) to corroded brake lines and seized calipers (more serious). Check for any pulling under braking and listen for grinding.
Other notable weak points include seat mounting fault (15x the fleet average), cable, rod or joint insecure (120x the fleet average), structural corrosion (14x the fleet average), and emissions failure (29x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Alfa Romeo 147's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Brakes, Seatbelts & Airbags, Bodywork, Exhaust & Emissions, Lights & Electrics and others. If you're inspecting a Alfa Romeo 147 before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Alfa Romeo 147's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Alfa Romeo 147 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are cable damaged or knotted (39x the average) and suspension component damaged or corroded (25x). seat mounting fault (15x) and structural corrosion (14x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Alfa Romeo 147 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are cable, rod or joint insecure (120x the average) and body panel damage (46x). emissions failure (29x) and cable damaged or knotted (23x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Alfa Romeo 147 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are cable, rod or joint insecure (70x the average) and cable damaged or knotted (20x). anti-roll bar links worn (14x) and emissions failure (10x) also appear frequently.
The shift from cable damaged or knotted at lower mileages to cable, rod or joint insecure at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
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Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Alfa Romeo 147 specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Timing belt service (Twin Spark petrol) Dangerous
The Twin Spark petrol engines (1.6 and 2.0) require a timing belt change every 36,000 miles or 3 years, whichever comes first. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £250–£400.
Timing belt service (1.9 JTD diesel) Dangerous
The 1.9 JTD diesel engine requires a timing belt change every 60,000 miles or 4 years, whichever comes first. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£450.
Timing belt service (3.2 V6 Busso) Dangerous
The 3.2 V6 Busso engine requires a timing belt change every 60,000 miles or 4 years, whichever comes first. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£600.
Oil level management — big end bearing risk (Twin Spark) Dangerous
Twin Spark engines are sensitive to oil level. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £10–£30.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Alfa Romeo 147 common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Alfa Romeo 147
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Alfa Romeo 147:
Brakes — check for cable damaged or knotted, cable, rod or joint insecure. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault. Bodywork — check for structural corrosion, exhaust system damage.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about timing belt service and timing belt service. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £250. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
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Alfa Romeo 147 MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Alfa Romeo 147?
Based on 37,445 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is cable damaged or knotted — at 39x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include seat mounting fault and cable, rod or joint insecure.
Is the Alfa Romeo 147 reliable based on MOT data?
The Alfa Romeo 147 has 15 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag timing belt service as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Alfa Romeo 147 most commonly fails on cable, rod or joint insecure and cable damaged or knotted. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are cable damaged or knotted and suspension component damaged or corroded.
How do I check a Alfa Romeo 147's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.