Sports car and convertible · 2005–2011 cars
Alfa Romeo Brera reliability
The Alfa Romeo Brera fails 34.8% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 6,490 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Alfa Romeo Brera before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 34.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 15% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 6,490
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,400
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Alfa Romeo Brera ages
Each point is the share of Alfa Romeo Breras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Alfa Romeo Brera | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 31.6% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 30.6% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 33.9% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 34.9% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 38.6% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 35.8% | 43.4% |
By year
The best and worst Alfa Romeo Brera years
2009 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 366 | 27.9% | 24% fewer fails | 74,590 |
| 2009 Brera | 1,481 | 29.9% | 22% fewer fails | 80,173 |
| 2008 Brera | 1,748 | 34.3% | 17% fewer fails | 92,490 |
| 2007 Brera | 1,424 | 38.6% | 9% fewer fails | 97,176 |
| 2006 Brera | 1,393 | 39.3% | 8% fewer fails | 92,952 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo Brera
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 33% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension14.8%6% below avg
- Lights and electrics11.9%37% below avg
- Brakes10.1%6% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks7.6%33% above avg
- Tyres6.3%12% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure5%26% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.5%46% below avg
- Steering2.8%11% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.7%59% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 7.18% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 4.22% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.94% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 4
Position lamp not working 2.31% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.28% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.23% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 7
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.08% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 8
Service brake excessively binding 2% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Alfa Romeo Brera's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit16.33%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive9.51%
- Brake disc pitted or scored8.24%
- Sub-frame showing corrosion7.73%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak6.9%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear5.13%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Alfa Romeo Brera
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 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
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 4
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.
- 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 typical Alfa Romeo Brera covers about 6,400 miles a year. A big gap or 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
- Petrol65.9%
- Diesel34.1%
Most common colours
Black, Red, Grey, Blue, Silver
Average engine size: 2.5 litres.
Compare
How the Alfa Romeo Brera compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari 458 | 3.9% | 74% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Skyline | 14.2% | 60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan 370 Z | 14.3% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus SC | 21.7% | 46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Abarth 124 Spider | 9.6% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Coupe | 27.6% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo Brera | 34.8% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Alfa Romeo models.
Questions
Alfa Romeo Brera questions, answered
Is the Alfa Romeo Brera reliable?
On MOT results, the Alfa Romeo Brera is about average: it fails 34.8% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 49 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo Brera MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Alfa Romeo Brera are coil spring fractured or broken (7.18% of tests), parking brake efficiency below minimum (4.22% of tests), engine warning light inoperative or lit (2.94% of tests). By area, suspension fails 14.8% of its tests.
Which Alfa Romeo Brera year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Alfa Romeo Brera do a year?
A typical Alfa Romeo Brera covers about 6,400 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Alfa Romeo Brera 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.
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