Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?

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 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?

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 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?

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 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

53% 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 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,001 vehicles, the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (64% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.7% 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 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?

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 159 (2008)

2,001 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Alfa Romeo 159

CarHunch analysed 2,001 real MOT records for the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159. 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 fails its MOT roughly one in four times, well below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 53% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during their test history—a significant red flag for safety-critical systems. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly (73.7% and 72.1% pass rates respectively), so fuel type won't be your deciding factor here.

These 159s average around 91,000 miles for their age, which is typical, but they're racking up 4.3 failures and 20.5 advisories per vehicle on test—pointing to chronic issues with suspension, brakes, and electrical components rather than one-off problems. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on brake condition and undercarriage corrosion, and budget for remedial work; this isn't a car to buy on price alone.

The 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.3% 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

72.3%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

53%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.32

Over 14.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

91k

Middle half: 73k–110k

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 20.5 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 2,001 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 2,001 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 64%

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

Other issues 45%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay · …

Brake wear 37.6%

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

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

Suspension & steering 22%

Nearside Rear coil spring broken

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 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,001 Alfa Romeo 159 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Alfa Romeo 159

Based on MOT data from 2,001 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 53% 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
Diesel (88%)	1,769	72.1%	4.36
Petrol (12%)	232	73.7%	4.01

Colour Breakdown

Based on 9,820 Alfa Romeo 159 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 40.4%

3,964

Grey 22.4%

2,204

Red 19.2%

1,887

Silver 10.1%

995

Blue 4.4%

428

White 3.4%

337

Maroon 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 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.

90,780

typical

72,615

low mileage

109,955

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 vehicles fall between 72,615 and 109,955 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 72,615 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.

✓ 72,615–109,955 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Alfa Romeo 159s sit.

⚠ Over 148,439 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Alfa Romeo 159 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 26% of 2008 Alfa Romeo 159s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 468 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (26% 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

14.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.32

Avg failures per vehicle

20.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Alfa Romeo 159: All 159 years → Which year to buy? →

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Buyer beware — pass it on