Used car guide

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Alfa Romeo Giulia first registered in 2017 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 2,049 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,049MOTs of 2017 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
80%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
9,800typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for headlight aim

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Headlight aim2.8× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulia
    5.1% All 2017 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 1.8% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3× usual
    Alfa Romeo Giulia
    2.1% All 2017 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Common 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    24% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    6% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    3% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the anti-roll bar link joints? (Flagged at MOT 3× as often on the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Alfa Romeo Giulia?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Alfa Romeo Giulia compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022851Tyres 18%
20211,333Tyres 21%
20202,403Tyres 21%
20194,383Tyres 23%
20184,676Tyres 26%
2016462Tyres 32%
1972–Too few tests
1971–Too few tests
1968–Too few tests
1967–Too few tests
1966–Too few tests
1965–Too few tests
1964–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Alfa Romeo Giulia cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score