Used car guide · 2006–2012

Alfa Romeo 159 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Alfa Romeo 159, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 10,503 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

10,503MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
3,832on the UK register
2009best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2012201120102009200820072006

What usually goes wrong with an Alfa Romeo 159?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Alfa Romeo 159 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Alfa Romeo 159 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Engine warning light

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007.

    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.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007.

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

Diesel

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    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.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 5.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Side repeaters

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Alfa Romeo 159 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 did best (58% passed first time, 1 point below all 2009 cars) and the 2010 did worst (57%, 3 points below all 2010 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201262%64% -2263 (small sample)
201160%62% -21,352
201057%60% -31,979
200958%59% -12,226
200855%57% -22,003
200754%57% -31,985
200655%56% -1695

Questions to ask the seller before buying an Alfa Romeo 159

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the Alfa Romeo 159 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Alfa Romeo 159 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Alfa Romeo 159 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Alfa Romeo 159?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score