Alfa Romeo 147 (2003)

6,222 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.7% first-time pass rate

2003 Alfa Romeo 147

CarHunch analysed 6,222 real MOT records for the 2003 Alfa Romeo 147. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 9.3% below UK average
70.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
63,378
typical mileage
50,531–77,048 middle half
28.1%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.25
avg MOT failures per car
over 13.8 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

71.2%
Petrol
4,998 vehicles
68.2%
Diesel
1,219 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2003 Alfa Romeo 147

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 28.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Alfa Romeo 147

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (80%) 4,998 71.2% 4.1
Diesel (20%) 1,219 68.2% 4.89
LPG (0%) 5 74.7% 3.4

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

50,531
low mileage
63,378
typical
77,048
high mileage

Half of all 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles fall between 50,531 and 77,048 miles.

2003 Alfa Romeo 147 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 198 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).

3,945 198 2014 2024

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.

MOT History Averages

13.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.25
Avg failures per vehicle
17
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2003 Alfa Romeo 147

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 82.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 81.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 67.6%
    Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
  • 57.1%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 53.3%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 42.9%
    Oil leak
  • 34.9%
    Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working
  • 34.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Alfa Romeo 147?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Alfa Romeo 147:

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009