Alfa Romeo 147 (2008)
2008 Alfa Romeo 147
CarHunch analysed 1,243 real MOT records for the 2008 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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The 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 is notably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 73.2% against the national 80%, and nearly half of these cars (48.2%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a serious red flag for any buyer. Diesel and petrol variants perform similarly poorly, at 72.1% and 75.1% respectively, suggesting the problem runs across the range.
These cars are averaging 16 years old with around 76,000 miles on the clock, which is reasonable, but the real concern is the sheer volume of faults: owners face an average of 4.2 failures and nearly 22 advisories per MOT test. Before purchasing, insist on a full pre-buy inspection from an Alfa specialist, as the frequency and severity of defects mean you'll need confidence in the specific car's history and maintenance record.
The 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 1,243 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 1,243 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,243 Alfa Romeo 147 cars.
Before you buy a 2008 Alfa Romeo 147
Based on MOT data from 1,243 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
48.2% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (63%) | 782 | 72.1% | 4.43 |
| Petrol (37%) | 461 | 75.1% | 3.8 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 31,360 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2008 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.
Half of all 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 vehicles fall between 59,178 and 94,202 miles.
2008 Alfa Romeo 147 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2008 Alfa Romeo 147s are still active.
Numbers are declining — 264 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 stacks up against a rival.