EV ZoneAlfa Romeo
Reliability
Alfa Romeo has a 67.9% MOT pass rate across 60,602 tests, sitting below the national average.
67.9% MOT pass rate based on 61,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 3 Alfa Romeo models.
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Are Alfa Romeo cars reliable?
Alfa Romeo vs other premium brands
Alfa Romeo sits below the 72.4% national average at 67.9%, based on 60,602 tests. This is the smallest sample of the 25 brands we analyse.
The brand's reputation for style over substance finds some support in the MOT data, though the newer Giulia bucks the trend significantly, scoring above 86%.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Alfa Romeo MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
At 3 years old, Alfa Romeo vehicles pass at 88.1% vs 88.5% nationally, essentially level. Alfa Romeo typically holds up against the national curve through ages 4 to 8. The gap widens from age 9 onwards. At age 10, Alfa Romeo sits at 66.4% vs 71.9% national.
The pattern reverses at the oldest bands. From age 15 onwards, Alfa Romeo passes at 57 to 61%, actually slightly above the national average for the same age range. This may reflect survivorship, where only the best-cared-for older Alfa Romeos remain on the road.
What are the most common Alfa Romeo faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Alfa Romeo, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Alfa Romeo failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Alfa Romeo vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (5.62% of Alfa Romeo failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Fractured or broken (5.59% of Alfa Romeo failures)
A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.
- Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.07% of Alfa Romeo failures)
More than one bulb or LED in a lamp cluster has failed, so the unit no longer meets minimum brightness. Often a headlight or brake light LED strip.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3.82% of Alfa Romeo failures)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
- Pin or bush excessively worn (3.59% of Alfa Romeo failures)
The metal pins or rubber bushes that connect suspension components have worn past their safe tolerance, creating play in the joint.
Suspension at 21.02% is Alfa Romeo's second most common failure category, above the 20.65% national average. For a brand that typically emphasises driving dynamics, this is worth noting. Brakes at 15.30% is also above the 12.99% national average. Lamps and electrical leads at 23.10%, close to the 24.6% national. Visibility at 8.54% is well below the 11.71% national, a rare positive.
Which Alfa Romeo models are most reliable?
Top 15 Alfa Romeo models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 21,703 | 65.2% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Alfa Romeo Mito | 15,431 | 60.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | 5,434 | 86.0% | Tyres |
The Giulia stands out at 86.00% (5,434 tests), a dramatically better result than the Giulietta at 65.22% (21,703 tests) and the MiTo at 60.83% (15,431 tests). The MiTo's 60.83% is notably low. This suggests a significant improvement in build quality with the newer Giulia. Note that the Giulia's test count is smaller (right at the 5,000-test threshold), so its figure should be viewed as an early indicator rather than a fully-baked benchmark.
How many miles do Alfa Romeo vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Alfa Romeo vehicles typically cover fewer miles than the national average at every age band. At age 6, Alfa Romeo averages 47,192 miles vs 49,771 national. By age 10, the gap widens to 72,434 vs 79,891. From age 15 onwards, Alfa Romeos average around 100,000 miles vs 104,000 or more nationally. This may reflect a fleet where older Alfa Romeos are kept as weekend or enthusiast cars rather than daily runabouts.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies.
Are there any Alfa Romeo safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Alfa Romeo when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Alfa Romeo via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Alfa Romeo's full history?
Before you buy any used Alfa Romeo, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Alfa Romeo been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Alfa Romeo?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Alfa Romeo been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Alfa Romeo been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Alfa Romeo worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Alfa Romeo's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Alfa Romeo?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Alfa Romeo insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Alfa Romeo Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.