Does the Alfa Romeo 156 fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Alfa Romeo 156 records 14.47 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 9.50 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+4.97, 95% interval +4.29 to +5.64). It ranks 36 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Alfa Romeo 156 by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Alfa Romeo 156 is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 458 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 458 | 3.77 |
| Emissions levels exceed default limits | 356 | 2.93 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 294 | 2.42 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 149 | 1.22 |
| Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 132 | 1.09 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 12,164 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Alfa Romeo 156 gets a noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
12.6% of Alfa Romeo 156 MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 2,813 miles later (1,036 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,036 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Alfa Romeo 156 2002 · Alfa Romeo 156 2003 · Alfa Romeo 156 2004 · Alfa Romeo 156 2005 · Alfa Romeo 156 in the Netherlands · Alfa Romeo 156 by postcode area · Alfa Romeo 156 body, chassis and structure failures · Alfa Romeo 156 brakes failures · Alfa Romeo 156 vehicle identification failures · Alfa Romeo 156 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Alfa Romeo 156 road wheels failures · Alfa Romeo 156 seat belts and airbags failures · Alfa Romeo 156 steering failures · Alfa Romeo 156 suspension failures · Alfa Romeo 156 tyres failures · Alfa Romeo 156 visibility failures