Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 Alfa Romeo 166?

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 166?

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 166?

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 166 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 166 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 160 vehicles, the 2003 Alfa Romeo 166 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 69.5%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2003 Alfa Romeo 166?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2003 Alfa Romeo 166 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (86.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.7% 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 2003 Alfa Romeo 166?

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 166 (2003)

160 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.5% first-time pass rate

2003 Alfa Romeo 166

CarHunch analysed 160 real MOT records for the 2003 Alfa Romeo 166. 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 Compare Models

The 2003 Alfa Romeo 166 falls well short of the UK average with a 69.5% first-time pass rate, and that's the real concern—nearly 40% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point, putting buyers and owners at genuine risk. This is a reliability problem, not a minor one, suggesting systemic issues beyond normal wear and tear.

These 166s are averaging 73,000 miles at test, which is reasonable for their age, but they're racking up an average of 4.3 failures and 18 advisories per MOT—well above what you'd expect from a well-maintained car. Before committing to one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on braking system condition, suspension geometry, and electrical gremlins, because this model clearly struggles to keep them sorted.

We have limited data for the 2003 Alfa Romeo 166 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

69.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

39.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.34

Over 13.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

66k

Middle half: 51k–92k

For context

These stats describe 160 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 160 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 86.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

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

Tyre wear 59.8%

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 37.2%

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

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

Other issues 25.7%

Oil leak

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 160 Alfa Romeo 166 cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Alfa Romeo 166

Based on MOT data from 160 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.4% 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 (98%)	157	69.5%	4.41

Mileage Distribution

Most 2003 Alfa Romeo 166 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.

65,913

typical

51,448

low mileage

91,705

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Alfa Romeo 166 vehicles fall between 51,448 and 91,705 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 51,448 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.

✓ 51,448–91,705 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Alfa Romeo 166s sit.

⚠ Over 123,801 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 166 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 16% of 2003 Alfa Romeo 166s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 13 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (16% 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

13.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.34

Avg failures per vehicle

18.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Alfa Romeo 166: All 166 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on