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Reliability
Are Fiats reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Fiat vehicles.
67.6% MOT pass rate based on 694,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 15 Fiat models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
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- ✓Vehicle valuation
Are Fiat cars reliable?
Fiat vs other premium brands
Fiat vehicles pass their MOT at 67.6%, five points below the national average of 72.4%. Among the European mainstream peers here, Ford (68.7%) sits marginally higher, with Fiat closely matched to Peugeot (66.7%) and Vauxhall (65.7%). Citroen (63.5%) and Renault (62.4%) trail behind.
The Fiat 500 city car alone accounts for 266,000 MOT tests, over a third of Fiat's UK volume. The 500 passes at 65.5%, slightly below national. The Panda, Ducato van, and Punto make up most of the remaining volume.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Fiat MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Fiat pass rates sit close to the national average for the first three years, then slip below from age 6 onward. At age 3, Fiats pass at 88.3% vs 88.5% nationally, essentially level. By age 6, Fiats trail at 81.3% vs 83.5%, and by age 10 the gap widens to 66.0% vs 71.9%.
The middle years show the biggest gap. At age 12, Fiats pass at 64.4% vs 65.7% nationally, and at 16 they sit at 57.2% vs 58.2%. By age 20 the pattern reverses: Fiats pass at 59.9% vs 57.6% nationally. The surviving oldest Fiats are mostly well-maintained enthusiast cars like older Pandas.
What are the most common Fiat faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Fiat, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Fiat failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Fiat vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (7.19% of Fiat failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Pin or bush excessively worn (5.45% of Fiat failures)
The metal pins or rubber bushes that connect suspension components have worn past their safe tolerance, creating play in the joint.
- Ball joint excessively worn (3.31% of Fiat failures)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3.17% of Fiat failures)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
- Efficiency below requirements (2.86% of Fiat failures)
Fiat's failure profile shows one clear tilt. Suspension accounts for 24.8% of failures vs 20.7% nationally, driven by the older Fiat 500 and Panda models on UK roads. Lamps and electrical failures at 23.7% sit just below the national 24.6%. Brakes at 13.2% match national.
Which Fiat models are most reliable?
Top 15 Fiat models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 265,754 | 65.5% | Suspension |
| Fiat Panda | 73,682 | 63.4% | Suspension |
| Fiat Ducato | 61,578 | 72.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Punto | 43,192 | 55.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Doblo | 34,616 | 62.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat 500x | 30,329 | 71.4% | Steering |
| Fiat 500c | 15,094 | 64.4% | Suspension |
| Fiat 500l | 15,068 | 61.5% | Suspension |
| Fiat 500 Dolcevita Mhev | 11,846 | 89.9% | Tyres |
| Fiat Tipo | 10,648 | 71.1% | Suspension |
| Fiat Auto Trail | 8,608 | 88.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Swift | 6,290 | 89.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat 500 Lounge Mhev | 6,049 | 87.1% | Tyres |
| Fiat Scudo | 5,976 | 51.2% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Fiorino | 5,896 | 60.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The Ducato van (72.7%) and 500X crossover (71.4%) lead the popular Fiat range. The high-volume Fiat 500 sits at 65.5% and the 500C convertible at 64.4%. The Panda passes at 63.4% and the Doblo van at 62.9%. The 500L (61.5%) and Punto (55.1%) pull the low end, and the older Scudo van at 51.2% is the weakest performer in the range.
How many miles do Fiat vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Fiat vehicles cover significantly less mileage than the national average at every age. At age 3, Fiats average 21,000 miles vs 28,000 nationally. At age 10, 59,000 vs 80,000, and by age 20 the gap is 73,000 vs 111,000. The city-car profile of the range keeps average annual mileage low.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Fiat safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Fiat when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Fiat via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Fiat's full history?
Before you buy any used Fiat, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Fiat been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Fiat?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Fiat been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Fiat been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Fiat worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Fiat's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Fiat?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Fiat insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Fiat Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.