2008 Alfa Romeo Brera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,305 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Alfa Romeo Brera, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (75.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.4% in the 150k+ group versus 8.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.2% | 435 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 356 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 276 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 205 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.9% | 163 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 139 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 319 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 147 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 117 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 110 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 100 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 99 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.0% | 893 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.1% | 862 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.1% | 762 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 433 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 424 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 296 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 48 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 474 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,070 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,000 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 521 | 28.6% |
| 150k+ | 191 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,127 | 24.3% |
| Diesel | 1,178 | 27.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 777 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 735 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 664 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 578 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 551 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Brera
Before buying a 2008 Alfa Romeo Brera, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.2% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Alfa Romeo Breras pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 3,305 2008 Alfa Romeo Brera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Alfa Romeo Brera?
Suspension, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.8%).
Does the 2008 Brera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,305 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.