Family hatchback · 1997–2012 cars
Alfa Romeo 147 reliability
The Alfa Romeo 147 fails 44.7% of first MOT tests, 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 7,664 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Alfa Romeo 147 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 44.7%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 7% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 7,664
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Alfa Romeo 147 ages
Each point is the share of Alfa Romeo 147s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Alfa Romeo 147 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 41.2% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 46.4% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 45.3% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 48.9% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 48.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 44.2% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 40% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 40.5% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 40.1% | 41.4% |
By year
The best and worst Alfa Romeo 147 years
2008 cars come out best and 2007 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 715 | 42.7% | 6% more fails | 96,589 |
| 2008 147 | 1,525 | 44.8% | 7% more fails | 99,422 |
| 2007 147 | 1,259 | 50.3% | 19% more fails | 96,553 |
| 2006 | 959 | 50.5% | 19% more fails | 93,953 |
| 2005 | 805 | 44.6% | 5% more fails | 93,168 |
| 2004 | 778 | 38.9% | 7% fewer fails | 89,187 |
| 2003 | 833 | 37.6% | 10% fewer fails | 88,957 |
| 2002 | 558 | 46.1% | 13% more fails | 87,945 |
| 2001 | 216 | 38.9% | 1% more fails | 76,131 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo 147
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 162% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics19.5%2% below avg
- Suspension19.2%20% above avg
- Brakes13.3%13% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure10.2%33% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors9.8%39% above avg
- Tyres8%16% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags6%162% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.9%6% below avg
- Steering2.6%24% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 6.08% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 2
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.65% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Position lamp not working 4.23% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 3.82% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 5
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 3.73% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.46% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.2% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 8
Windscreen washers not working 2.77% of tests
Without working washers the windscreen cannot be cleaned while driving, which is a safety risk in dirty weather.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Alfa Romeo 147's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit16.88%
- Brake disc pitted or scored14.73%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive9.75%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear9.5%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.21%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak7.05%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Alfa Romeo 147
- 1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 2
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol64%
- Diesel36%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Red, Black, Grey, Blue, White
Average engine size: 1.9 litres.
Compare
How the Alfa Romeo 147 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 147 | 44.7% | 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ford Escort | 38.9% | 11% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 45 | 43.9% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Veloster | 36.2% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG GS | 21.3% | 31% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG 6 | 38.2% | 38% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Lacetti | 52.3% | 39% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Alfa Romeo models.
Questions
Alfa Romeo 147 questions, answered
Is the Alfa Romeo 147 reliable?
On MOT results, the Alfa Romeo 147 is about average: it fails 44.7% of first MOT tests, 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 37 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo 147 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Alfa Romeo 147 are suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (6.08% of tests), parking brake efficiency below minimum (4.65% of tests), position lamp not working (4.23% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 19.5% of its tests.
Which Alfa Romeo 147 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2008 cars do best (7% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2007 cars do worst (19% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Alfa Romeo 147 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
Found a Alfa Romeo 147? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.