Alfa Romeo Giulia MOT Failures

An analysis of 17,064 real DVSA MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo Giulia — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: 952 (2016–2022), Quadrifoglio (2016–2022).

Where the Alfa Romeo Giulia fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Alfa Romeo Giulia is headlight fault — this model is 28 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 17,064 MOT tests, 1.87% of all Alfa Romeo Giulia tests recorded this as a failure.

Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.

Other notable weak points include tyre cords visible or damaged (9.9x the fleet average), anti-roll bar links worn (8.3x the fleet average), emissions failure (6.6x the fleet average), and brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator (7.3x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Alfa Romeo Giulia'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 5 categories: Lights & Electrics, Tyres, Suspension, Exhaust & Emissions, Brakes. If you're inspecting a Alfa Romeo Giulia 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 Giulia'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 Giulia specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are headlight fault (28x the average) and tyre cords visible or damaged (9.9x). brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator (7.3x) and anti-roll bar links worn (6.6x) 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.

The standout failure at this mileage is tyre cords visible or damaged at 5.3x the fleet average.

The shift from headlight fault at lower mileages to tyre cords visible or damaged 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.

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 Giulia specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Suspension component premature wear (952) Major

Suspension pins, bushes and joints on 952 Giulias show accelerated wear patterns compared to equivalent BMW or Audi models. Affects 952; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.

DPF issues Major

The 2.2 MultiJet diesel engine experiences DPF blockage and regeneration failures, particularly on cars used for short journeys or urban driving. Affects 952; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£1,200.

Fuel pump failures Major

NHTSA complaints document in-tank fuel pump failures causing sudden power loss and stalling. Affects 952, Quadrifoglio; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£700.

Engine management warning light (952)

Common triggers include lambda sensor faults, EGR valve carbon buildup on diesels, and software glitches in the engine control module. Affects 952; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£300.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Alfa Romeo Giulia common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Alfa Romeo Giulia

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Alfa Romeo Giulia:

Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault. Tyres — check for tyre cords visible or damaged. Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about suspension component premature wear and dpf issues. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £300. 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. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

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.