Alfa Romeo 159 Common Problems & Known Faults (UK)
If you are considering buying a used Alfa Romeo 159, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 12 owner reports · 1 good note
Alfa Romeo 159 939 series (2005 to 2011) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Timing chain stretch caused by oil sludge blocking the hydraulic tensioner
Rough guide
£800-1200
Typical symptoms
Check Engine light with code P0016
rattling noise on cold start
loss of power or rough idle
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 JTS / 1.9 JTS
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
1 more owner report backs this up
May 2012Long service intervals on 2.2 and 3.2 GM-based petrol engines caused oil sludge, leading to timing chain stretch and occasional failure.
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Transmission/ClutchHigh severity📝 Editorial
M32 6-speed manual gearbox bearing failure causing whining noises and gearstick movement
Rough guide
£800-1500
Typical symptoms
loud whining noise in 5th and 6th gear
gearstick physically moves forwards and backwards when accelerating/lifting off in 1st/5th/6th
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.9 JTDm / 1.4 TB
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the 939 series
12 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · October 2016A 2.0 JTD Alfa 159 Sportwagon experienced an engine flat spot, believed to be caused by a clogged exhaust gas recirculation valve.
Electrics · March 2016Both keys for a 1.9 JTDM Alfa 159 intermittently failed to disengage the immobiliser, possibly requiring reprogramming or an ECU repair.
Electrics · November 2014The speedometer on a 2010 Alfa 159 failed at 37,000 miles, with a new dashboard quoted at £1,300 for replacement.
Engine · June 2014A 2.4 JTDM Alfa 159 required a timing belt and water pump replacement, costing £613 at an independent garage.
Bodywork · June 2013The rear spoiler on an Alfa 159 detached at speed because of insufficient adhesive on one side.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2013An Alfa 159 TBI had difficulty reversing uphill, with the transmission sticking and a strong clutch smell.
Engine · November 2012The timing belt on a 2.4 diesel Alfa 159 failed at 66,000 miles, which was earlier than the manufacturer's stated lifespan.
Bodywork · May 2012An Alfa 159 developed excessive corrosion on its front subframe, leading to an MOT failure due to poor factory paint application.
Engine · February 2012An Alfa 159 2.4 JTD required a new oil pump, but none were available for purchase across Europe.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2011A manual transmission Alfa 159 experienced a gearbox failure, requiring repair or replacement of the unit.
Cooling · May 2011Radiator hoses on an Alfa 159 were found to chafe against the fan housings.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2011A 2.0 JTD Alfa 159 displayed dual-mass flywheel problems, similar to those affecting other vehicles with the same drivetrain.
What owners like about the 939 series
1 note
The Alfa 159 achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating for occupant safety, with four stars for child safety.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 4 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Alfa Romeo 159 advert and we check it in seconds.
Alfa Romeo 159 service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used 159. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing chainChain
1.9 JTS, 2.2 JTS
No fixed replacement interval
The 1.9 and 2.2 JTS engines use a timing chain that is notorious for stretching if oil changes are missed. Listen for rattling on cold start and watch for engine light code P0016.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
1.9 JTDM, 1.9 JTD
72,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first
Alfa specialists recommend replacing the cambelt and water pump every 5 years or 72,000 miles, earlier than the official 90,000-mile interval.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Alfa Romeo 159 buying questions
Is a used Alfa Romeo 159 reliable?
The Alfa Romeo 159 has 2 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (timing chain stretch caused by oil sludge blocking the hydraulic tensioner) and gearbox (m32 6-speed manual gearbox bearing failure causing whining noises and gearstick movement). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
Which Alfa Romeo 159 years should I avoid?
No Alfa Romeo 159 year is a write-off, but the 939 series (2005 to 2011) carries the most serious faults: engine and gearbox. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Alfa Romeo 159?
Ask the seller about the engine and gearbox faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for check Engine light with code P0016 and loud whining noise in 5th and 6th gear. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Alfa Romeo 159 advert →
What is the real MPG of an Alfa Romeo 159?
Owners report 36.1 mpg on average across the Alfa Romeo 159 engines with data, about 82% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 246 owner submissions. Alfa Romeo 159 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Alfa Romeo 159 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Alfa Romeo 159 goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.