Optare Alero Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Optare Alero car check
Is the Optare Alero reliable? We analysed 1,218 real MOT tests across 139 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Optare Alero? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Optare Alero is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, transmission brake efficiency below requirements and headlamp aim too low. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Optare Alero.
Optare Alero Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Optare Alero. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Optare Alero MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Optare Alero to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Optare Alero Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Optare Alero fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Optare Alero Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Optare Alero owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Optare Alero MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Optare Alero year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100 | 90.0% | 30,182 | 54,995 | 98,796 |
| 2006 | 66 | 69.7% | 14,703 | 62,486 | 88,627 |
| 2005 | 63 | 65.1% | 73,072 | 99,197 | 185,296 |
| 2004 | 255 | 75.7% | 37,305 | 69,944 | 115,071 |
| 2003 | 315 | 70.5% | 66,941 | 98,835 | 133,936 |
| 2002 | 302 | 65.9% | 76,398 | 116,315 | 169,044 |
| 2001 | 67 | 67.2% | 125,270 | 181,503 | 259,526 |
How Long Does a Optare Alero Last?
Based on 139 Optare Alero vehicles on UK roads.
Optare Alero Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Optare Alero 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 Optare Alero
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.0% MOT pass rate from 100 tests
65.1% MOT pass rate from 63 tests
The best year to buy a used Optare Alero is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.0% across 100 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Optare Alero Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optare Alero THIS CAR | 72.0% | 1,218 | 91,872 mi | 25 yrs |
| Piaggio PK50 | 81.2% | 713 | 14,607 mi | 36 yrs |
| Kawasaki En 650 Dlf | 91% | 489 | 5,021 mi | — yrs |
| Ford Mondeo Ghia TDCI 140 | 77% | 599 | 136,165 mi | — yrs |
| Pulse Wy 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 | 71.7% | 1,182 | 8,509 mi | 14 yrs |
Compared to the Piaggio PK50 (81.2% pass rate) and the Kawasaki En 650 Dlf (91.0% pass rate), the Optare Alero trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Optare Alero 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 Optare AleroShould you buy a used Optare Alero?
The Optare Alero has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% across 1,218 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Optare Alero are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (83 recorded failures), transmission brake efficiency below requirements (28), and headlamp aim too low (25). 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 Optare Alero owner drives around 6,491 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 Optare Alero models stay on UK roads for around 25 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.