Alfa Romeo 159 2008: MOT failure rate for its age
44.9% of 6,437 MOT tests of the Alfa Romeo 159 first registered in 2008 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 100.2 (95% CI 96.5–103.8; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2008 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 44.9 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 6437 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 96.5–103.8) | 100.2 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 6437 |
| Rank among this model's 7 build years | 5 | of 7 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 6437 |
| Tested in 2024 | 635 | tests | median 124,446 miles | 2024 | 635 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2008 were tested at ages 11 to 16 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1,529 | 46 | 43.6–48.5 | 47.4 | 97.1 |
| 12 | 1,230 | 45.4 | 42.7–48.2 | 45.1 | 100.8 |
| 13 | 1,180 | 44.4 | 41.6–47.3 | 44.9 | 98.8 |
| 14 | 1,038 | 42.9 | 39.9–45.9 | 43.1 | 99.5 |
| 15 | 825 | 46.1 | 42.7–49.5 | 43.7 | 105.4 |
| 16 | 635 | 43.5 | 39.7–47.3 | 41.9 | 103.8 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,437 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2008 Alfa Romeo 159?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2008 is suspension: 33.5 items per 100 first tests, against 32.4 across all build years of the Alfa Romeo 159. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2008 were tested at ages 11 to 16.
| Failure group | Built 2008, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 33.5 | 32.4 | 2,154 |
| Brakes | 27 | 24.7 | 1,737 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.7 | 24 | 1,525 |
| Tyres | 16.3 | 15.1 | 1,049 |
| Visibility | 9.5 | 9.2 | 613 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 6,437 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2008 compare with the years around it?
Among the 7 published build years of the Alfa Romeo 159, 2008 ranks 5 (1 = fails least for its age). 2007: index 100.3. 2009: index 99.9.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 101.6 | 96.0–107.2 | no different (rough estimate) | 2,719 |
| 2007 | 100.3 | 96.9–103.7 | no different | 7,359 |
| 2008 | 100.2 | 96.5–103.8 | no different | 6,437 |
| 2009 | 99.9 | 96.2–103.7 | no different | 6,192 |
| 2010 | 95.6 | 91.3–99.9 | better | 4,758 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 89.9–100.7 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,067 |
| 2012 | 87.4 | 74.2–100.6 | no different (rough estimate) | 489 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 31,021 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Alfa Romeo 159 2008 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/alfa-romeo-159/2008/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Alfa Romeo 159 2006 · Alfa Romeo 159 2007 · Alfa Romeo 159 2009 · Alfa Romeo 159 2010 · Alfa Romeo 159 2011 · Alfa Romeo 159 2012 · Alfa Romeo 159 in Norway · Alfa Romeo 159 in Finland · Alfa Romeo 159 in the Netherlands · Alfa Romeo 159 by postcode area · Alfa Romeo 159 body, chassis and structure failures · Alfa Romeo 159 brakes failures · Alfa Romeo 159 vehicle identification failures · Alfa Romeo 159 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Alfa Romeo 159 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Alfa Romeo 159 road wheels failures · Alfa Romeo 159 seat belts and airbags failures · Alfa Romeo 159 steering failures · Alfa Romeo 159 suspension failures · Alfa Romeo 159 tyres failures · Alfa Romeo 159 visibility failures