Alfa Romeo 156 (2005)
2005 Alfa Romeo 156
CarHunch analysed 1,951 real MOT records for the 2005 Alfa Romeo 156. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 69.5% against the national 80%, and a troubling 30.3% of vehicles having suffered dangerous defects. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly, with pass rates of 70.6% and 68.8% respectively, suggesting the problem is inherent to the model rather than fuel type.
These cars are averaging 4.46 failures and 19.1 advisories per test, pointing to chronic issues across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. At a median mileage of 86,102 miles for a 19-year-old car, these vehicles are showing their age hard—if you're considering one, budget for serious remedial work and request full service history records to understand what's already been repaired.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2005 Alfa Romeo 156
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.
- ⚠️ 30.3% 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 156
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (59%) | 1,157 | 68.8% | 4.67 |
| Petrol (41%) | 794 | 70.6% | 4.17 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 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.
Half of all 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 vehicles fall between 68,098 and 106,892 miles.
2005 Alfa Romeo 156 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 117 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (8% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2005 Alfa Romeo 156
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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79.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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77.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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60.7%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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57.5%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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36.3%
Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working
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35.8%
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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34.7%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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33.4%
Offside Front position lamp(s) not working
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Alfa Romeo 156?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.