Alfa Romeo 156
Registered from 1998 to 2007.
About this model
The Alfa Romeo 156 is a compact executive car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It was introduced at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the Alfa Romeo 155. The 156 received a positive reception and in the following year went on to win the 1998 European Car of the Year award. The 156 saloon was discontinued in Europe late in 2005, while the Q4 Crosswagon continued in production until the end of 2007.
From the Wikipedia article Alfa Romeo 156, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2005 1.9 diesel. 35 of 100 tests failed, 35%.
Better than 2% of 2005 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 837 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 49% | 17 |
| Lights and electrics | 46% | 16 |
| Visibility | 37% | 13 |
| Brakes | 34% | 12 |
| Body and structure | 31% | 11 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 17% | 6 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- 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
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where it stands out against its peers
- Visibility: failed more often than 98% of 2005 cars — 37% of its 35 failed tests, where an ordinary 2005 car has 9%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 49% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- 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
- Brakes — 34% of its failures
- Exhaust and emissions — 17% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 46% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Visibility — 37% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Body and structure — 31% of its failures
- 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