Alfa Romeo 156 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Alfa Romeo 156. Check any 156 by registration number below.

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78.3%

Avg Pass Rate

-4.6%

vs Alfa Romeo Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Alfa Romeo 156 — MOT Reliability Overview

The Alfa Romeo 156 has an average MOT pass rate of 78.3%, which is 4.6 percentage points below the Alfa Romeo brand average of 82.9%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your 156 on the road.

The most common reasons a Alfa Romeo 156 fails its MOT are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. If you are preparing your 156 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Alfa Romeo 156, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Alfa Romeo 156 performs at MOT across different model years.

2008

Based on 129 vehicles

88.4%Excellent

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

Mileage at 5yr

176k mi

Mileage at 10yr

277k mi

2007

Based on 66 vehicles

56.1%Below Average

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

Dangerous Defects

7.7%

Retest Rate

33.3%

2006

Based on 62 vehicles

69.4%Average

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

14.7%

2005

Based on 428 vehicles

63.8%Below Average

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

Dangerous Defects

3.5%

Retest Rate

23.5%

2004

Based on 544 vehicles

64.9%Below Average

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

Dangerous Defects

5.8%

Retest Rate

Based on 552 vehicles

89.3%Excellent

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

0

Based on 1,806 vehicles

71.5%Average

Alfa Romeo average: 82.9%

Mileage at 5yr

104k mi

Top MOT Failures — Alfa Romeo 156

The most common reasons a Alfa Romeo 156 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

7.0%

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

5.3%

Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen

5.3%

Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer

4.7%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

3.7%

Alfa Romeo 156 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Other Alfa Romeo Models

Compare MOT reliability across Alfa Romeo models.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 T 170

98.9% pass rate

Alfa Romeo Mito

74.2% pass rate

Alfa Romeo Brera

73.6% pass rate

Alfa Romeo 932

87.7% pass rate

Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 Jtd 16v 150 Sportwagon

88.6% pass rate

Alfa Romeo 147 1.6 Ts 105cv

92.6% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Alfa Romeo 156

Alfa Romeo 156 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Alfa Romeo 156 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Alfa Romeo 156?

The average MOT pass rate for the Alfa Romeo 156 is 78.3% compared to the Alfa Romeo average of 82.9%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Alfa Romeo 156?

The most common MOT failures on the Alfa Romeo 156 are: The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (7.0%), Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (5.3%), Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen (5.3%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Alfa Romeo 156 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 78.3%, the Alfa Romeo 156 is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Alfa Romeo 156?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Alfa Romeo 156?

Typical mileage for the Alfa Romeo 156: 175,948 miles at 5 years, 276,781 miles at 10 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 156 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Alfa Romeo 156's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.