2025 MOT results
Alfa Romeo 159 common problems
The most common reason a Alfa Romeo 159 fails its MOT is a weak handbrake, on 21.7% of its 1,196 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 6 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a diesel engine emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit at 5.4% of failures against 1.1% expected; structural corrosion at 12.0% of failures against 3.0% expected; a weak handbrake at 21.7% of failures against 5.6% expected.
- Tests in 2025 2,812 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 42.5% 1,196 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 11.9% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 68.1% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Alfa Romeo 159 MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Alfa Romeo 159 tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 21.7% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 15.8% |
| Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension | 12.0% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.4% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.2% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 8.2% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 7.9% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 7.7% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding Brakes | 6.2% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 5.9% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.7% |
| Diesel engine: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
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Weak handbrake
21.7% of failures 5.6% expected 3.9 times as often
The handbrake cannot hold the car to the efficiency the test requires, usually from a stretched cable or seized rear callipers.
On a hill, the handbrake should hold the car with a couple of clicks left in the lever.
-
Broken coil spring
15.8% of failures 10.1% expected 1.6 times as often
A broken suspension spring, which usually snaps in the bottom coil and often fails on both sides within a year.
Look at each corner for a sagging ride height, and listen for a knock over speed bumps.
-
Structural corrosion
12.0% of failures 3.0% expected 4 times as often
Corrosion in a structural area near a suspension, steering or seat belt mounting, which is a serious failure.
Look at the inner sills, rear spring seats and subframe mounts on cars over about 12 years old.
-
Sidelight out
9.4% of failures 13.7% expected somewhat less often
A sidelight, also called a position lamp, not working. It marks the width of the car at night.
Walk round the car with the lights on and the hazards going; these are the cheapest failures to avoid.
-
Engine management light on
8.2% of failures 5.5% expected 1.5 times as often
The engine management light is on, or has been disconnected. Either fails the test.
A cheap code reader on the diagnostic socket will say what the car has stored before you pay for a test.
-
Tyre worn through to the cords
8.2% of failures 4.5% expected 1.8 times as often
The tyre is worn or damaged far enough to expose the cords underneath, which is a dangerous defect.
Run a hand round the inner and outer walls of each tyre, which is where kerbing shows.
Which parts of the car fail
Suspension is the area that most often fails a Alfa Romeo 159, on 46.9% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is brakes, on 35.3% against 24.5% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 46.9% |
| Brakes | 35.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 35.0% |
| Tyres | 20.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 18.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 18.6% |
| Visibility | 12.0% |
| Steering | 8.2% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
68.1% of Alfa Romeo 159 tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Alfa Romeo 159s, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 26.6% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 19.5% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 12.8% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 11.9% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 7.5% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 6.1% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes | 5.7% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 5.6% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 5.5% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 5.3% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 5.1% |
| Linkage ball joint has slight play Suspension | 3.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Alfa Romeo 159 problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Alfa Romeo 159?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Parking brake efficiency below requirements” is the most common: it appears on 21.7% of failed Alfa Romeo 159 tests. Across categories, suspension is the area that most often fails one, on 46.9% of failed tests.
How often does a Alfa Romeo 159 fail its MOT?
42.5% of Alfa Romeo 159 tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 2,812 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 45 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Alfa Romeo 159 than on other cars?
Yes. “Diesel engine: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit” appears on 5.4% of its failures against 1.1% for cars of the same age, and “Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength” appears on 12.0% of its failures against 3.0% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Alfa Romeo 159 aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 2,812 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.