Alfa Romeo Mito MOT Failures
An analysis of 233,581 real DVSA MOT tests on the Alfa Romeo Mito — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: 955 (2008–2019).
Where the Alfa Romeo Mito fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Alfa Romeo Mito is track rod ends worn — this model is 12 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it worth watching for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 233,581 MOT tests, 2.28% of all Alfa Romeo Mito tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include emissions failure (79x the fleet average), brake hoses perished or damaged (24x the fleet average), front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (21x the fleet average), and exhaust system damage (15x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Alfa Romeo Mito'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: Steering, Exhaust & Emissions, Brakes, Lights & Electrics, Bodywork and others. If you're inspecting a Alfa Romeo Mito 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 Mito'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 Mito specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are brake hoses perished or damaged (24x the average) and emissions failure (18x). exhaust system damage (15x) and steering rack wear (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 Mito specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are emissions failure (79x the average) and brake hoses perished or damaged (12x). engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or det... (11x) and suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing worn (10x) 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 Mito specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are front or rear fog lamp not securely attached (21x the average) and engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or det... (16x). suspension pin, bush or joint worn (12x) and emissions failure (11x) also appear frequently.
The shift from brake hoses perished or damaged at lower mileages to front or rear fog lamp not securely attached 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 Mito specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Timing belt (wet) failure Dangerous
The 1.4 MultiAir engine uses a wet timing belt system where the timing belt runs directly in engine oil rather than being enclosed in a dry case. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£800.
Rear coil spring fracture Dangerous
MOT data shows MiTo fails at 106.0 times the fleet average for fractured or seriously weakened springs, with failures occurring across all engine variants from as low as 20,000 miles. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£250.
MultiAir actuator failure Major
The MultiAir system uses hydraulic actuators to control intake valve timing and lift, replacing conventional mechanical cam followers. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £600–£1,000.
TCT dual clutch failure Major
The TCT (Twin Clutch Technology) is Alfa Romeo's dual-clutch automatic transmission system available across the MiTo range. Affects All; typical independent garage repair cost is £1,200–£2,000.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Alfa Romeo Mito common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Alfa Romeo Mito
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Alfa Romeo Mito:
Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Brakes — check for brake hoses perished or damaged. Lights & Electrics — check for front or rear fog lamp not securely attached.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about timing belt and rear coil spring fracture. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £500. 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.
Looking at a specific Alfa Romeo Mito?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Alfa Romeo Mito MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Alfa Romeo Mito?
Based on 233,581 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is track rod ends worn — at 12x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include emissions failure and brake hoses perished or damaged.
Is the Alfa Romeo Mito reliable based on MOT data?
The Alfa Romeo Mito has 22 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag timing belt 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 Mito most commonly fails on front or rear fog lamp not securely attached and engine mounting/bracket severely damaged or det.... Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are brake hoses perished or damaged and emissions failure.
How do I check a Alfa Romeo Mito'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.