Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Alfa Romeo 147?

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 2003 Alfa Romeo 147?

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 2003 Alfa Romeo 147?

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 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 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 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 6,222 vehicles, the 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Alfa Romeo 147?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (82.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (81.5% of vehicles), Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (67.6% 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 2003 Alfa Romeo 147?

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 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. 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 Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 passes its MOT on the first attempt just 70.7% of the time, nearly 10 points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful reliability concern. More worryingly, 28.1% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is well above acceptable levels and should give any potential buyer pause.

At an average mileage of 69,557 miles for a 21-year-old car, these 147s are running fairly hard, yet they still rack up an average of 4.25 failures per test and 17 advisories, suggesting age-related wear is compounding underlying build quality issues. If you're seriously considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection from an Alfa specialist and budget for suspension, braking, and electrical work—petrol models are slightly more reliable at 71.2% pass rate versus diesel at 68.2%, but neither figure is reassuring.

The 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.7% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

70.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

28.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.25

Over 13.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

63k

Middle half: 51k–77k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 6,222 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 6,222 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 82.6%

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 67.6%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · …

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

Other issues 42.9%

Oil leak

Brake wear 32.9%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Wipers & washers 22.5%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 6,222 Alfa Romeo 147 cars.

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

Before you buy a 2003 Alfa Romeo 147

Based on MOT data from 6,222 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.1% 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 (80%)	4,998	71.2%	4.1
Diesel (20%)	1,219	68.2%	4.89

Colour Breakdown

Based on 31,360 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 23.5%

7,374

Red 23.4%

7,337

Blue 22.8%

7,137

Silver 13.8%

4,318

Grey 12.8%

4,001

Green 2.2%

676

White 1%

315

Beige 0.4%

135

Orange 0.1%

Gold 0.1%

Purple 0%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 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.

63,378

typical

50,531

low mileage

77,048

high mileage

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

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 50,531 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.

✓ 50,531–77,048 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Alfa Romeo 147s sit.

⚠ Over 104,014 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Alfa Romeo 147 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 5% of 2003 Alfa Romeo 147s are still active.

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

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.25

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Alfa Romeo 147: All 147 years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Alfa Romeo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on