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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Alfa Romeo Alfasud car check

Is the Alfa Romeo Alfasud reliable? We analysed 3,126 real MOT tests across 420 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,126 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.6%
Typical Mileage
53,540mi
Annual Mileage
407mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
50yrs

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Alfa Romeo Alfasud.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Number Plates

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

Alfa Romeo Alfasud MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

71.7%
1989
68.5%
1988
63.5%
1985
71.8%
1984
73%
1983
72.7%
1982
69.4%
1981
72.4%
1980
77.4%
1979
69.6%
1978
80.4%
1977
78.9%
1976

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 207
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 160
brake binding 121
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 114
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 106
parking brake recording little or no effort 96
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive 73
Horn not working 69
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 64
position lamp(s) not working 60

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
132 mi/yr
Typical
407 mi/yr
Average
1,097 mi/yr
Heavy usage
980 mi/yr

Alfa Romeo Alfasud MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1989 92 71.7% 39,886 44,894 72,871
1988 54 68.5% 5,186 43,472 83,075
1985 52 63.5% 6,220 67,084 93,043
1984 454 71.8% 35,850 58,040 70,048
1983 967 73.0% 31,684 59,961 78,504
1982 374 72.7% 27,975 39,691 71,415
1981 134 69.4% 41,808 52,178 75,339
1980 254 72.4% 42,980 53,396 66,376
1979 265 77.4% 34,822 43,594 55,271
1978 194 69.6% 42,982 56,166 69,670
1977 92 80.4% 31,980 40,427 74,722
1976 57 78.9% 36,192 61,113 67,061

How Long Does a Alfa Romeo Alfasud Last?

Based on 420 Alfa Romeo Alfasud vehicles on UK roads.

Average
33.8 years
Median
36.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
50 years

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Mileage Distribution

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

Median
53,540 mi
75th Percentile
72,590 mi
95th Percentile
94,728 mi
Max Recorded
137,382 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Alfa Romeo Alfasud

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

Best year
1977

80.4% MOT pass rate from 92 tests

Year to avoid
1985

63.5% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

The best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo Alfasud is 1977, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.4% across 92 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.5% — 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 Alfasud Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Alfa Romeo Alfasud THIS CAR 72.6% 3,126 53,540 mi 50 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
BMW 420D Gran Coupe M Sport Auto 92.7% 2,303 69,314 mi — yrs

Compared to the Alfa Romeo 156 (66.1% pass rate) and the Alfa Romeo 147 (68.9% pass rate), the Alfa Romeo Alfasud outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Alfa Romeo Alfasud?

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.6% across 3,126 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Alfa Romeo Alfasud are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (207 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (160), and brake binding (121). 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 Alfasud owner drives around 407 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 Alfasud models stay on UK roads for around 50 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 Alfasud — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Alfa Romeo Alfasud reliable?
Based on 3,126 MOT tests, the Alfa Romeo Alfasud has a 72.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Alfa Romeo Alfasud?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and brake binding. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Alfa Romeo Alfasud do per year?
The typical Alfa Romeo Alfasud does around 407 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Alfa Romeo Alfasud last?
Most Alfa Romeo Alfasud models stay on UK roads for around 50 years based on our analysis of 420 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Alfa Romeo Alfasud?
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 Alfasud?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo Alfasud is 1977 with a 80.4% pass rate across 92 tests.