Used car guide · 2008–2019

Alfa Romeo Mito common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Alfa Romeo Mito, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 56,858 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

56,858MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
17,436on the UK register
2012best 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).

201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008

What usually goes wrong with an Alfa Romeo Mito?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Alfa Romeo Mito 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 Mito MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Coil springs

    up to 10.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 4.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Brake discs

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

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

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

Alfa Romeo Mito MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Alfa Romeo Mito did best (63% passed first time, 1 point below all 2012 cars) and the 2018 did worst (73%, 10 points below all 2018 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201971%85% -14103 (small sample)
201873%83% -101,206
201771%80% -92,176
201669%77% -84,400
201564%74% -104,626
201463%70% -74,995
201363%67% -44,864
201263%64% -16,601
201160%62% -28,076
201059%60% -19,320
200955%59% -410,491

Questions to ask the seller before buying an Alfa Romeo Mito

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

  1. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 10.6× as often on the Alfa Romeo Mito as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 4.6× as often on the Alfa Romeo Mito as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the Alfa Romeo Mito 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 Mito?

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