Sports car and convertible · 1996–2020 cars
Alfa Romeo Spider reliability
The Alfa Romeo Spider fails 30.2% of first MOT tests, 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 9,446 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Alfa Romeo Spider before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 30.2%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 18% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 9,446
- 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 Spider ages
Each point is the share of Alfa Romeo Spiders of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Alfa Romeo Spider | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 21.6% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 25% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 26.4% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 28.5% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 25.6% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 31.7% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 27.4% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 33.6% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 32.3% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 32.8% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 37.4% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 35.5% | 37.1% |
| 25 | 39.6% | 35.8% |
By year
The best and worst Alfa Romeo Spider years
2008 cars come out best and 1999 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 351 | 19.9% | 38% fewer fails | 60,995 |
| 2009 | 415 | 20% | 42% fewer fails | 57,345 |
| 2008 Spider | 1,840 | 25.8% | 28% fewer fails | 64,422 |
| 2007 Spider | 1,744 | 27.7% | 27% fewer fails | 71,656 |
| 2005 | 221 | 25.3% | 32% fewer fails | 61,165 |
| 2004 | 218 | 24.8% | 35% fewer fails | 72,237 |
| 2003 | 333 | 40.8% | 0% more fails | 76,858 |
| 2002 | 417 | 32.1% | 20% fewer fails | 84,636 |
| 2001 | 968 | 28.6% | 27% fewer fails | 78,213 |
| 2000 | 585 | 38.1% | 0% fewer fails | 83,051 |
| 1999 Spider | 1,050 | 37.7% | 2% more fails | 85,639 |
| 1998 | 740 | 38.8% | 10% more fails | 85,101 |
| 1997 | 337 | 35.9% | 2% more fails | 93,327 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo Spider
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 45% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Brakes12.3%19% above avg
- Suspension9.5%27% below avg
- Lights and electrics8.6%47% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.3%12% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure5.6%19% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.7%28% below avg
- Tyres3.9%29% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.2%45% above avg
- Steering1.5%46% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 6.11% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 2
Coil spring fractured or broken 2.89% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 3
Service brake efficiency below minimum 2.29% of tests
The brakes are not stopping the car effectively enough, a serious safety risk that needs urgent repair before driving.
- 4
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 1.98% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.94% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 6
CV joint boot split or insecure 1.84% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.52% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 8
Exhaust has major gas leak 1.5% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Alfa Romeo Spider's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.96%
- Brake disc pitted or scored9.22%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive7.64%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion6.8%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.75%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak4.73%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Alfa Romeo Spider
- 1
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.
- 2
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 3
Service brake efficiency below minimum
The brakes are not stopping the car effectively enough, a serious safety risk that needs urgent repair before driving.
- 4
Airbag warning lamp shows fault
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 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
- Petrol90.3%
- Diesel9.7%
Most common colours
Red, Silver, Black, Blue, Grey
Average engine size: 2.2 litres.
Compare
How the Alfa Romeo Spider compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan GT-R | 5.6% | 76% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Aston Martin DB11 | 3.9% | 66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW i8 | 9.6% | 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo Spider | 30.2% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Convertible | 28.1% | 14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat 124 | 12.5% | 6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Vauxhall Cascada | 22.6% | 4% 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 Spider questions, answered
Is the Alfa Romeo Spider reliable?
On MOT results, the Alfa Romeo Spider is better than average: it fails 30.2% of first MOT tests, 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 41 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Alfa Romeo Spider MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Alfa Romeo Spider are parking brake efficiency below minimum (6.11% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (2.89% of tests), service brake efficiency below minimum (2.29% of tests). By area, brakes fails 12.3% of its tests.
Which Alfa Romeo Spider year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2008 cars do best (28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1999 cars do worst (about average for its age).
How do I check a Alfa Romeo Spider 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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