Executive car · 2000–2021 cars
Alfa Romeo Giulia reliability
The Alfa Romeo Giulia fails 13.3% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 20,943 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Alfa Romeo Giulia before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 13.3%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 17% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 20,943
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 8,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Alfa Romeo Giulia ages
Each point is the share of Alfa Romeo Giulias of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Alfa Romeo Giulia | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 13.7% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 13.8% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 13% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 14.5% | 22.1% |
By year
The best and worst Alfa Romeo Giulia years
2020 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 236 | 12.3% | 10% more fails | 22,092 |
| 2020 Giulia | 1,752 | 9.5% | 23% fewer fails | 26,505 |
| 2019 Giulia | 4,357 | 11.6% | 14% fewer fails | 31,303 |
| 2018 Giulia | 5,992 | 12.4% | 22% fewer fails | 41,454 |
| 2017 Giulia | 7,933 | 15.4% | 15% fewer fails | 46,933 |
| 2016 | 640 | 16.7% | 17% fewer fails | 54,379 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo Giulia
Its weak spot is tyres: 15% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres6%15% above avg
- Lights and electrics4.4%8% above avg
- Brakes2.2%26% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1%9% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.7%78% below avg
- Suspension0.6%72% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.5%101% above avg
- Wheels0.3%42% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.2%53% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed 2.18% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Headlamp aim set too high 2.02% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.9% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.18% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 5
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.65% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 6
Headlamp aim set too low 0.56% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.42% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 8
Brake discs significantly worn 0.39% of tests
Heavily worn discs reduce braking performance and wear pads faster, so a replacement will soon be needed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Alfa Romeo Giulia's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.17%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.55%
- Brake pads wearing thin7.08%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking1.92%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit1.69%
- Brake discs showing some wear1.36%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Alfa Romeo Giulia
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Headlamp aim set too high
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
- 3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 4
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 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 Giulia covers about 8,500 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
- Petrol70.8%
- Diesel29.2%
Most common colours
Red, Blue, Black, Grey, White
Average engine size: 2.2 litres.
Compare
How the Alfa Romeo Giulia compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M5 | 11.4% | 64% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus GS | 19.4% | 45% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW M2 | 9.3% | 41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo S90 | 11.7% | 32% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo S80 | 30.5% | 24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | 13.3% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz CLC | 42.8% | 7% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Alfa Romeo models.
Questions
Alfa Romeo Giulia questions, answered
Is the Alfa Romeo Giulia reliable?
On MOT results, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is better than average: it fails 13.3% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 31 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo Giulia MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Alfa Romeo Giulia are tyre ply or cords exposed (2.18% of tests), headlamp aim set too high (2.02% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.9% of tests). By area, tyres fails 6% of its tests.
Which Alfa Romeo Giulia year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2020 cars do best (23% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Alfa Romeo Giulia do a year?
A typical Alfa Romeo Giulia covers about 8,500 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 Giulia 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 Giulia? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.