Alfa Romeo 166 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Alfa Romeo 166 car check
Is the Alfa Romeo 166 reliable? We analysed 30,600 real MOT tests across 2,966 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Alfa Romeo 166? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Alfa Romeo 166 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, position lamp(s) not working and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Alfa Romeo 166.
Alfa Romeo 166 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Alfa Romeo 166. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Alfa Romeo 166 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Alfa Romeo 166 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Alfa Romeo 166 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Alfa Romeo 166 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Alfa Romeo 166 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Alfa Romeo 166 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Alfa Romeo 166 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Alfa Romeo 166 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 140 | 58.6% | 54,862 | 77,118 | 101,873 |
| 2007 | 135 | 67.4% | 45,454 | 66,914 | 86,879 |
| 2005 | 1,916 | 69.6% | 48,701 | 73,492 | 103,404 |
| 2004 | 1,749 | 69.1% | 52,718 | 77,734 | 104,756 |
| 2003 | 2,156 | 67.7% | 47,847 | 68,896 | 96,855 |
| 2002 | 3,258 | 66.6% | 53,050 | 76,066 | 99,809 |
| 2001 | 6,018 | 64.2% | 60,041 | 81,492 | 105,312 |
| 2000 | 7,655 | 63.5% | 68,306 | 90,350 | 113,543 |
| 1999 | 7,327 | 62.2% | 71,314 | 92,493 | 116,086 |
| 1998 | 186 | 61.8% | 72,959 | 91,030 | 114,111 |
How Long Does a Alfa Romeo 166 Last?
Based on 2,966 Alfa Romeo 166 vehicles on UK roads.
Alfa Romeo 166 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Alfa Romeo 166 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 166
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
69.6% MOT pass rate from 1,916 tests
58.6% MOT pass rate from 140 tests
The best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo 166 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 69.6% across 1,916 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.6% — 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 166 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo 166 THIS CAR | 64.7% | 30,600 | 84,558 mi | 27 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 Transit Custom 280LMTD Eblue A | 81.8% | 10,346 | 51,129 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Alfa Romeo 156 (66.1% pass rate) and the Alfa Romeo 147 (68.9% pass rate), the Alfa Romeo 166 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Alfa Romeo 166 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 166Should you buy a used Alfa Romeo 166?
The Alfa Romeo 166 has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.7% across 30,600 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Alfa Romeo 166 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (2,359 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (2,194), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2,135). 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 166 owner drives around 5,537 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 166 models stay on UK roads for around 27 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.