Used car guide

2001 Alfa Romeo GTV: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Alfa Romeo GTV first registered in 2001: we looked at the 523 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

523MOTs of 2001 cars, done in 2023–2025
61%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 60%)
3,800typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2001 Alfa Romeo GTV?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2001 Alfa Romeo GTV than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2× usual
    Alfa Romeo GTV
    12.6% All 2001 cars
    6.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.9%, against 2.8% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 6.7% here, against 14.1% of all 2001 cars.

Common 2001 Alfa Romeo GTV MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2001 Alfa Romeo GTV MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    40% 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.

  • Suspension
    36% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    18% 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.

  • Tyres
    16% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2001 Alfa Romeo GTV

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

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2001 Alfa Romeo GTV as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an Alfa Romeo GTV?

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 GTV compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2005–Too few tests
2004171Brakes 36%
2003228Brakes 43%
2002440Brakes 36%
2000500Brakes 47%
1999694Brakes 41%
1998435Brakes 39%
1997176Brakes 40%
1996–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–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 GTV cars first registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score