Used car guide

2007 Alfa Romeo 147: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 Alfa Romeo 147s, from 220 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 220 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

220MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 Alfa Romeo 147s than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Alfa Romeo 147
    15.9% All 2007 cars
    7.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.4% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

By area

The share of 2007 Alfa Romeo 147 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    18% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2009164Suspension 51%
2008286Suspension 47%
2006171Suspension 46%
2005160Suspension 38%
2004164Suspension 38%
2003186Suspension 26%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2007 Alfa Romeo 147s registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score