Alfa Romeo 156 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Alfa Romeo 156 car check
Is the Alfa Romeo 156 reliable? We analysed 487,324 real MOT tests across 48,356 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Alfa Romeo 156? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Alfa Romeo 156 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Alfa Romeo 156.
Alfa Romeo 156 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Alfa Romeo 156. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Alfa Romeo 156 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Alfa Romeo 156 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Alfa Romeo 156 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Alfa Romeo 156 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Alfa Romeo 156 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Alfa Romeo 156 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Alfa Romeo 156 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Alfa Romeo 156 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 305 | 72.8% | 43,744 | 62,699 | 91,498 |
| 2007 | 1,401 | 69.2% | 45,855 | 73,114 | 107,104 |
| 2006 | 1,982 | 67.0% | 40,258 | 61,934 | 87,594 |
| 2005 | 27,117 | 67.8% | 51,124 | 77,052 | 105,821 |
| 2004 | 46,424 | 67.2% | 47,730 | 72,591 | 101,838 |
| 2003 | 59,990 | 67.9% | 48,430 | 72,902 | 100,122 |
| 2002 | 71,765 | 67.4% | 55,049 | 77,354 | 102,154 |
| 2001 | 109,818 | 66.4% | 62,918 | 83,926 | 106,728 |
| 2000 | 84,512 | 65.1% | 66,099 | 86,040 | 108,268 |
| 1999 | 52,837 | 63.3% | 70,431 | 89,690 | 110,136 |
| 1998 | 30,643 | 62.6% | 73,296 | 92,752 | 113,884 |
| 1997 | 325 | 62.2% | 71,757 | 90,908 | 113,309 |
How Long Does a Alfa Romeo 156 Last?
Based on 48,356 Alfa Romeo 156 vehicles on UK roads.
Alfa Romeo 156 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Alfa Romeo 156 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 156
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
72.8% MOT pass rate from 305 tests
62.2% MOT pass rate from 325 tests
The best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo 156 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.8% across 305 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.2% — 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 156 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 156 THIS CAR | 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 |
| Alfa Romeo Mito | 74.4% | 347,934 | 55,620 mi | 17 yrs |
| Volvo C70 | 72.6% | 351,562 | 75,483 mi | 28 yrs |
Compared to the Alfa Romeo 147 (68.9% pass rate) and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta (78.3% pass rate), the Alfa Romeo 156 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Alfa Romeo 156 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 156Should you buy a used Alfa Romeo 156?
The Alfa Romeo 156 has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.1% across 487,324 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Alfa Romeo 156 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (42,148 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (31,156), and suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (21,869). 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 156 owner drives around 6,689 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 156 models stay on UK roads for around 28 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.