Petrol Alfa Romeo 156: MOT pass rate

66.9% of petrol Alfa Romeo 156s pass the MOT first time, measured across 991 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 96,846.

Petrol against the other Alfa Romeo 156 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Alfa Romeo 156 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 66.9%, and this petrol version sits 0.2 points above the 66.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Alfa Romeo 156 had covered 96,846 miles at test, against 131,994 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Alfa Romeo 156 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Alfa Romeo 156

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.5% of tests (26.66x the national rate for this defect)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.1% of tests (11.52x the national rate for this defect)
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3% of tests (7.2x the national rate for this defect)
4. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 2.8% of tests (6.69x the national rate for this defect)
5. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.4% of tests (4.67x the national rate for this defect)
6. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.3% of tests (4.52x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 7.6% of tests (3.25x the national rate for this defect)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.2% of tests (3.14x the national rate for this defect)
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 3.2% of tests (2.48x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 4.1% of tests (2.41x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,008 DVSA-tracked petrol Alfa Romeo 156 tests, 2024, split out from the Alfa Romeo 156's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.55% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Alfa Romeo 156

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 4.2% of tests (7.43x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.9% of tests (4.57x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 20.1% of tests (4.26x the national rate for this defect)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 11% of tests (3.87x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.8% of tests (3.83x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.2% of tests (2.37x the national rate for this defect)
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.4% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 21.3% of tests (1.6x the national rate for this defect)
9. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 7.3% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.4% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,008 DVSA-tracked petrol Alfa Romeo 156 tests, 2024.

Other Alfa Romeo 156 fuel types

• Diesel Alfa Romeo 156 - 66.2%

All Alfa Romeo 156 MOT data · Every model