MOT data by first-use year
2009 Alfa Romeo 159: MOT fail rate and common problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 1,013 MOT tests · Updated
45.2% of 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 cars failed their MOT at 13 years (2022), against 39.7% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 13 years in 2022 (1,013 MOT tests) [1].
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Engine, fuel and mileage decide where one vehicle sits within these figures. Check the reg first.
Figures are for 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 cars as a group, not for one car.
- Fail rate at 13 years (2022)
- 45.2%
- vs 39.7% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 13 years in 2022
- 1,013 MOT tests
- Gap to all class 4, same age and year
- +5.5 pts
- at 13 years
- 1,013 MOT tests
- MOT tests of 2009 cars
- 1,013
- tested 2022, 1 age with 1,000+ tests
- 1,013 MOT tests
No neighbouring first-use year of the Alfa Romeo 159 has 1,000 MOT tests at the same ages, so this year is compared only with all class 4 vehicles the same age.
Every Alfa Romeo 159 year against all class 4 vehicles the same age
2009 Alfa Romeo 159 fail rate at each MOT
2009 Alfa Romeo 159 cars had one MOT age with at least 1,000 tests in the data: 13 years, in 2022.
| Test year | Age | Fail rate | 95% range | MOT tests | All class 4, same age and year | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 years | 45.2% | 42.2%–48.3% | 1,013 | 39.7% | +5.5 pts |
All class 4: every class 4 vehicle (cars and light vans) tested at that age in the same test year.
What fails on an Alfa Romeo 159 at 13 years
All Alfa Romeo 159 MOTs at 13 years, cars first used 2009–2011 (2,301 MOT tests; DVSA item counts are not split by first-use year). The most common fail items: handbrake too weak (9.0 per 100 MOT tests), coil spring broken (8.4 per 100 MOT tests) and tyre with cords exposed (5.4 per 100 MOT tests, a wear item).
No item fails at a clearly different rate from all class 4 vehicles the same age across 3 or more ages.
Road tax for a 2009 Alfa Romeo 159
The Vehicle Certification Agency lists 38 petrol and diesel versions of the Alfa Romeo 159 in its data from May 2008 to May 2010, from 138 to 288 g/km CO2 [3]. A car first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 is taxed by CO2 band, so that is 7 bands from E to M: from £200 to £790 a year at the 2026/27 rates [2].
| Band | 12 months | CO2 g/km | Petrol versions | Diesel versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | £200 | 138–140 | 0 | 2 |
| F | £225 | 142–150 | 0 | 3 |
| G | £275 | 153–159 | 0 | 3 |
| I | £360 | 179–183 | 2 | 6 |
| J | £410 | 187–194 | 2 | 4 |
| K | £445 | 208–220 | 4 | 4 |
| M | £790 | 260–288 | 8 | 0 |
Versions listed, not cars sold: this does not say how common each band is. The CO2 figure on the car's V5C log book decides its band. Car tax calculator for a 2009 car
Car tax and ULEZ for a 2009 car
A car first registered in the UK in 2009 was issued a 58 (January–February), 09 (March–August) or 59 (September–December) plate, unless it was registered in Northern Ireland (no age identifier) or has since moved to a private plate. An imported one is plated when first registered here, so its plate can be newer than its first-use year. 09 plates
A 2009 car is taxed by its CO2 emissions band (A to M), shown on the V5C logbook. [2]
For the London ULEZ, a 2009 petrol usually meets Euro 4, and a 2009 diesel usually does not meet Euro 6. The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. [4] ULEZ checker
Buying an Alfa Romeo 159? Check that exact car before the viewing.
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
Questions people ask
What is the MOT fail rate of a 2009 Alfa Romeo 159?
45.2% at 13 years (tested 2022), from 1,013 MOT tests, against 39.7% for all class 4 vehicles tested at 13 years in 2022.
At what ages were 2009 Alfa Romeo 159 cars MOT tested in the data?
1 age with at least 1,000 MOT tests: 13 years, tested 2022, 1,013 MOT tests in all.
What fails most on an Alfa Romeo 159 at 13 years?
9.0 in 100 MOT tests failed on handbrake too weak, the most common fail item. From 2,301 MOT tests of Alfa Romeo 159 cars first used 2009–2011, not only 2009.
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,013 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
- GOV.UK, Vehicle tax rates. Rules, not drawn from the MOT data.
- Vehicle Certification Agency, Car fuel and emissions data. VCA data, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Transport for London, Ultra Low Emission Zone. Rules, not drawn from the MOT data.
Cars tested at 13 years are compared with every class 4 vehicle tested at 13 years in the same test year. These rates are not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare