Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

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 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

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 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

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 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

25% 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 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,059 vehicles, the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (33.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (32.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (31% 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 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

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 Stelvio (2018)

1,059 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90% first-time pass rate

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

CarHunch analysed 1,059 real MOT records for the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. 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 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio passes its MOT first time at 90.0%, a solid 10 percentage points above the UK average—but one in four of these cars (25.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine buyer concern. Petrol and diesel variants are closely matched on reliability, both hovering around 90% pass rates.

At 38,092 miles median, these Stelvios are relatively lightly used for their age, yet they're still accumulating an average of 5.6 advisories per test, suggesting wear and maintenance issues are creeping in despite low mileage. When you spec one, factor in that suspension, steering, and brake components will likely need attention—and always get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically flags any history of dangerous defects.

The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio has a decent first-time pass rate (90%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

90%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

25.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.66

Over 5.7 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

38k

Middle half: 29k–48k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.6 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 1,059 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,059 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 33.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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

Tyre wear 32.1%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 10.9%

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play · Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play

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

Other issues 8.9%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,059 Alfa Romeo Stelvio cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Based on MOT data from 1,059 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.1% 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 (51%)	543	90.6%	0.61
Diesel (49%)	516	89.3%	0.72

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,934 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 23.6%

693

Blue 19.3%

566

Black 18.9%

554

Grey 16.8%

492

White 13%

382

Silver 4.9%

145

Green 3%

Yellow 0.2%

Beige 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio 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.

38,092

typical

28,976

low mileage

47,673

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles fall between 28,976 and 47,673 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 28,976 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.

✓ 28,976–47,673 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvios sit.

⚠ Over 64,358 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvios are still on the road.

Strong survival — 992 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.66

Avg failures per vehicle

5.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2017 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Alfa Romeo →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing