Alfa Romeo 146 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Alfa Romeo 146 car check
Is the Alfa Romeo 146 reliable? We analysed 35,522 real MOT tests across 5,725 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Alfa Romeo 146? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Alfa Romeo 146 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Alfa Romeo 146.
Alfa Romeo 146 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Alfa Romeo 146. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Alfa Romeo 146 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Alfa Romeo 146 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Alfa Romeo 146 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Alfa Romeo 146 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Alfa Romeo 146 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Alfa Romeo 146 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Alfa Romeo 146 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Alfa Romeo 146 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 158 | 70.9% | 53,430 | 75,669 | 95,828 |
| 2001 | 963 | 64.9% | 55,842 | 69,856 | 88,994 |
| 2000 | 5,761 | 62.1% | 57,207 | 76,126 | 97,097 |
| 1999 | 6,475 | 61.2% | 62,144 | 80,014 | 100,222 |
| 1998 | 7,827 | 59.4% | 67,456 | 85,079 | 103,377 |
| 1997 | 7,428 | 60.4% | 71,644 | 89,804 | 109,581 |
| 1996 | 5,245 | 59.3% | 73,470 | 91,711 | 110,426 |
| 1995 | 1,552 | 58.3% | 70,978 | 88,293 | 107,088 |
How Long Does a Alfa Romeo 146 Last?
Based on 5,725 Alfa Romeo 146 vehicles on UK roads.
Alfa Romeo 146 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Alfa Romeo 146 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Alfa Romeo 146
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
70.9% MOT pass rate from 158 tests
58.3% MOT pass rate from 1,552 tests
The best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo 146 is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.9% across 158 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Alfa Romeo 146 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 146 THIS CAR | 60.5% | 35,522 | 84,577 mi | 31 yrs |
| Alfa Romeo 156 | 66.1% | 487,324 | 82,323 mi | 28 yrs |
| Alfa Romeo 147 | 68.9% | 411,257 | 69,088 mi | 25 yrs |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta | 78.3% | 348,185 | 63,719 mi | 16 yrs |
| Ford Focus St-line Edition MHEV | 89.5% | 11,512 | 29,000 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Alfa Romeo 156 (66.1% pass rate) and the Alfa Romeo 147 (68.9% pass rate), the Alfa Romeo 146 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Alfa Romeo 146 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Alfa Romeo 146Should you buy a used Alfa Romeo 146?
The Alfa Romeo 146 has an overall MOT pass rate of 60.5% across 35,522 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Alfa Romeo 146 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3,342 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3,249), and brake pipe excessively corroded (2,966). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Alfa Romeo 146 owner drives around 5,238 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Alfa Romeo 146 models stay on UK roads for around 31 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.