Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 Alfa Romeo 146?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2001 Alfa Romeo 146?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2001 Alfa Romeo 146?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

28% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 105 vehicles, the 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.4%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Alfa Romeo 146?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (75.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69% of vehicles), Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (62.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2001 Alfa Romeo 146?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Alfa Romeo 146 (2001)

105 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.4% first-time pass rate

2001 Alfa Romeo 146

CarHunch analysed 105 real MOT records for the 2001 Alfa Romeo 146. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 is notably unreliable by modern standards: only 66.4% pass MOT first time compared to the 80% UK average, and nearly three in ten (27.6%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a serious concern for any prospective buyer. With an average of 3.22 failures per vehicle and 12.6 advisories, these cars demand more attention than most.

At around 70,000 miles median mileage for a 23-year-old car, these examples have been used moderately, yet still accumulate significant faults. Before buying, budget for suspension, brake, and emission-related work—the high advisory count suggests these are recurring problem areas—and always get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

We have limited data for the 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

66.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

27.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.22

Over 9.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

69k

Middle half: 60k–86k

For context

These stats describe 105 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 105 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 75.9%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 69%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 62.1%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Exhaust & emissions 34.5%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits

Other issues 24.1%

Oil leak

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 105 Alfa Romeo 146 cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Alfa Romeo 146

Based on MOT data from 105 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 27.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (97%)	102	66.4%	3.26

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

69,252

typical

60,062

low mileage

85,748

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Alfa Romeo 146 vehicles fall between 60,062 and 85,748 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 60,062 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 60,062–85,748 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Alfa Romeo 146s sit.

⚠ Over 115,759 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

9.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.22

Avg failures per vehicle

12.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Alfa Romeo 146: All 146 years → Which year to buy? →

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on