What are the most common problems with an Alfa Romeo GTV?

At MOT, drive shaft (cv) joints is flagged more often than on other cars the same age.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used Alfa Romeo GTV?

Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Alfa Romeo GTV as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide · 1983–2005

Alfa Romeo GTV common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Alfa Romeo GTV, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 3,167 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1986 Alfa Romeo GTV

Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Alfa Romeo GTV as a whole.

19on the UK register at the end of 2025

ProbablyMOT-exempt (40+ years old), unless substantially changed

Petrolfuel type

What to check on a 1986 car

Rust and structure
Look underneath at the sills, floor, chassis rails and jacking points. Rust in the structure costs far more to fix than paint bubbles.
MOT-exempt isn’t roadworthy
Cars over 40 don’t need an MOT, but they must still be safe. A voluntary MOT or a specialist inspection is worth the money.
Paperwork
Old MOT certificates, bills and restoration photos show how it has been looked after. Check the logbook matches the car’s VIN and engine number.
Originality
Changes from standard affect value and insurance. Ask what has been replaced or modified.
Insurance
Classic insurance is often cheaper but may limit mileage and use. Get a quote before you buy.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1986 1985 1984 1983

What usually goes wrong with an Alfa Romeo GTV?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Alfa Romeo GTV in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Alfa Romeo GTV MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Drive shaft (CV) joints
up to 2.1× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

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.

Alfa Romeo GTV MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

Year	Pass first time	All cars that year	MOT tests
2004	65%	57% +8	171 (small sample)
2003	61%	57% +4	228 (small sample)
2002	64%	58% +6	440 (small sample)
2001	61%	60% +1	523
2000	60%	61% -1	500
1999	57%	63% -6	694
1998	64%	65% -1	435 (small sample)
1997	70%	65% +5	176 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying an Alfa Romeo GTV

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

Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Alfa Romeo GTV as on other cars the same age.)
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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score