Used car guide

2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Alfa Romeo Giuliettas, from 3,149 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,149MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,700typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Alfa Romeo Giuliettas than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Coil springs2.3× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    21.9% All 2012 cars
    9.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    17.3% All 2012 cars
    10.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Side repeaters6× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    7.2% All 2012 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 0.8% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings5.4× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    5.4% All 2012 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 0.3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Headlights1.9× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    9.1% All 2012 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.5% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 1% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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.

  • Tyres
    36% 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
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    30% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    10% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Alfa Romeo Giulietta?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020522Tyres 34%
2019513Tyres 33%
2018846Tyres 30%
20171,531Tyres 32%
20162,788Tyres 34%
20152,979Tyres 32%
20143,071Tyres 35%
20132,967Suspension 38%
20114,611Suspension 49%
20101,518Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Alfa Romeo Giuliettas registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score