Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% 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 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,838 vehicles, the 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Alfa Romeo 147?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (84% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (84% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60% 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 2004 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 (2004)

3,838 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Alfa Romeo 147

CarHunch analysed 3,838 real MOT records for the 2004 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 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 is a notably unreliable prospect by modern standards: only 70.2% pass their MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%, and a worrying 32% have recorded dangerous defects at some point—well above acceptable. Petrol variants fare marginally better at 71.1% pass rate versus 68.6% for diesels, but neither inspires confidence.

At a median mileage of 60,194 miles for a 20-year-old car, these examples have been moderately used, yet they're arriving at MOT with an average of 4.35 failures and 18.3 advisories per test—signs of accumulated wear and poor maintenance culture. If you're considering one, budget for regular repairs and insist on a full pre-purchase inspection by an Alfa specialist, particularly around suspension, electrics, and emissions systems where Italian cars of this age typically struggle.

The 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.2% 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

70.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

32%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.35

Over 13.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

60k

Middle half: 47k–74k

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 18.3 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 3,838 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 3,838 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 84%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside 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.

Brake wear 50.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Other issues 32.1%

Oil leak

Lighting 25.8%

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working · Offside Front position lamp(s) not working

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

Suspension & steering 24%

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush · Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,838 Alfa Romeo 147 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

71.1%

Petrol

2,535 vehicles

68.6%

Diesel

1,301 vehicles

Before you buy a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147

Based on MOT data from 3,838 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32% 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 (66%)	2,535	71.1%	4.16
Diesel (34%)	1,301	68.6%	4.71

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 2004 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.

60,194

typical

47,298

low mileage

74,392

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles fall between 47,298 and 74,392 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 47,298 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.

✓ 47,298–74,392 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Alfa Romeo 147s sit.

⚠ Over 100,429 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Alfa Romeo 147 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2004 Alfa Romeo 147s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 157 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

13.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.35

Avg failures per vehicle

18.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Or browse all models: Alfa Romeo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on