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Alfa Romeo Spider Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Alfa Romeo Spider car check

Is the Alfa Romeo Spider reliable? We analysed 124,331 real MOT tests across 8,177 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 124,331 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.8%
Typical Mileage
68,471mi
Annual Mileage
1,906mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
42yrs

The Alfa Romeo Spider is about 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 windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Alfa Romeo Spider.

Alfa Romeo Spider Number Plates

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

Alfa Romeo Spider MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

74.1%
2013
86.7%
2011
84.6%
2010
81.2%
2009
80%
2008
77.7%
2007
80.6%
2006
74.8%
2005
73.2%
2004
70.7%
2003
72.4%
2002
70.7%
2001
68.2%
2000
67.4%
1999
67.5%
1998
67%
1997
65.2%
1996
65.6%
1995
70.8%
1994
74.3%
1993

Alfa Romeo Spider Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 5,076
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,433
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 3,048
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,697
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 2,135
Headlamp aim too low 2,046
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,948
position lamp(s) not working 1,695
Registration plate lamp not working 1,460

Alfa Romeo Spider Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
650 mi/yr
Typical
1,906 mi/yr
Average
3,148 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,295 mi/yr

Alfa Romeo Spider MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2013 85 74.1% 27,063 40,834 92,068
2011 375 86.7% 28,965 43,471 59,684
2010 1,689 84.6% 28,200 45,755 66,688
2009 2,423 81.2% 30,236 46,068 68,105
2008 11,811 80.0% 31,362 49,539 70,255
2007 13,087 77.7% 31,808 51,356 73,632
2006 335 80.6% 24,358 36,277 53,642
2005 1,771 74.8% 30,326 47,730 65,828
2004 2,323 73.2% 33,819 52,333 72,855
2003 3,547 70.7% 43,438 61,698 81,416
2002 4,494 72.4% 43,616 65,945 86,065
2001 10,147 70.7% 44,106 64,239 82,744
2000 8,096 68.2% 52,288 71,321 90,295
1999 10,837 67.4% 54,650 74,217 94,224
1998 10,537 67.5% 58,200 77,205 96,143
1997 11,132 67.0% 62,552 83,533 102,562
1996 7,240 65.2% 60,652 82,049 102,319
1995 480 65.6% 69,564 101,786 132,649
1994 295 70.8% 41,910 63,097 89,780
1993 1,137 74.3% 49,704 71,368 100,150

How Long Does a Alfa Romeo Spider Last?

Based on 8,177 Alfa Romeo Spider vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.8 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
42 years

Alfa Romeo Spider Mileage Distribution

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

Median
68,471 mi
75th Percentile
91,648 mi
95th Percentile
133,463 mi
Max Recorded
989,552 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Alfa Romeo Spider

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

Best year
2011

86.7% MOT pass rate from 375 tests

Year to avoid
1996

65.2% MOT pass rate from 7,240 tests

The best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo Spider is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.7% across 375 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.2% — 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 Spider Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Alfa Romeo Spider THIS CAR 71.8% 124,331 68,471 mi 42 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
Hyundai Atoz 66.4% 53,480 55,091 mi 28 yrs

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

Found a Alfa Romeo Spider you like?

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Should you buy a used Alfa Romeo Spider?

The Alfa Romeo Spider has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.8% across 124,331 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Alfa Romeo Spider are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (5,076 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4,433), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3,048). 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 Spider owner drives around 1,906 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 Spider models stay on UK roads for around 42 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 Spider — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Alfa Romeo Spider reliable?
Based on 124,331 MOT tests, the Alfa Romeo Spider has a 71.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Alfa Romeo Spider?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Alfa Romeo Spider do per year?
The typical Alfa Romeo Spider does around 1,906 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Alfa Romeo Spider last?
Most Alfa Romeo Spider models stay on UK roads for around 42 years based on our analysis of 8,177 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Alfa Romeo Spider?
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 Spider?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Alfa Romeo Spider is 2011 with a 86.7% pass rate across 375 tests.