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Alfa Romeo 155 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Alfa Romeo 155 car check

Is the Alfa Romeo 155 reliable? We analysed 13,858 real MOT tests across 2,442 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 13,858 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
61.5%
Typical Mileage
99,431mi
Annual Mileage
3,940mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Alfa Romeo 155 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Alfa Romeo 155.

Alfa Romeo 155 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Alfa Romeo 155. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Alfa Romeo 155 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Alfa Romeo 155 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

60%
2002
69.5%
2001
65.4%
2000
63.9%
1999
67.3%
1998
61.7%
1997
62.2%
1996
60.7%
1995
59.1%
1994
61.3%
1993
60.3%
1992

Alfa Romeo 155 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Alfa Romeo 155 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,649
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,208
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 876
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 802
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 729
position lamp(s) not working 694
brake recording little or no effort 660
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 641
parking brake recording little or no effort 616
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 602

Alfa Romeo 155 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Alfa Romeo 155 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,515 mi/yr
Typical
3,940 mi/yr
Average
4,981 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,993 mi/yr

Alfa Romeo 155 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Alfa Romeo 155 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2002 50 60.0% 58,469 82,337 99,190
2001 82 69.5% 55,065 73,652 90,128
2000 78 65.4% 73,667 83,497 107,208
1999 83 63.9% 67,748 78,724 95,548
1998 52 67.3% 91,214 119,584 137,458
1997 4,392 61.7% 72,392 90,288 112,482
1996 4,003 62.2% 80,233 100,816 121,578
1995 2,435 60.7% 88,194 108,746 130,943
1994 1,313 59.1% 84,162 104,882 127,839
1993 926 61.3% 86,161 109,858 134,187
1992 375 60.3% 87,779 107,951 136,470

How Long Does a Alfa Romeo 155 Last?

Based on 2,442 Alfa Romeo 155 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.1 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Alfa Romeo 155 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Alfa Romeo 155 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
99,431 mi
75th Percentile
122,230 mi
95th Percentile
161,992 mi
Max Recorded
967,437 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Alfa Romeo 155

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2001

69.5% MOT pass rate from 82 tests

Year to avoid
1994

59.1% MOT pass rate from 1,313 tests

The best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo 155 is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 69.5% across 82 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.1% — 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 155 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Alfa Romeo 155 THIS CAR 61.5% 13,858 99,431 mi 34 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 Motor Caravan 75.3% 4,518 52,276 mi 47 yrs

Compared to the Alfa Romeo 156 (66.1% pass rate) and the Alfa Romeo 147 (68.9% pass rate), the Alfa Romeo 155 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Alfa Romeo 155?

The Alfa Romeo 155 has an overall MOT pass rate of 61.5% across 13,858 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Alfa Romeo 155 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (1,649 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (1,208), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (876). 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 155 owner drives around 3,940 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 155 models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.

Alfa Romeo 155 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Alfa Romeo 155 reliable?
Based on 13,858 MOT tests, the Alfa Romeo 155 has a 61.5% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Alfa Romeo 155?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Alfa Romeo 155 do per year?
The typical Alfa Romeo 155 does around 3,940 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Alfa Romeo 155 last?
Most Alfa Romeo 155 models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 2,442 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Alfa Romeo 155?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Alfa Romeo 155?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo 155 is 2001 with a 69.5% pass rate across 82 tests.