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Reliability
Are Fiats reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Fiat vehicles.
67.3% MOT pass rate based on 746,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 17 Fiat models.
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Are Fiat cars reliable?
Fiat vs other premium brands
Fiat vehicles pass their MOT at 67.3%, five points below the national average of 71.9%. Among the European mainstream peers here, Ford (68.5%) sits marginally higher, with Fiat closely matched to Peugeot (66.3%) and Vauxhall (65.4%). Citroen (63.0%) and Renault (62.0%) trail behind.
The Fiat 500 city car alone accounts for 286,000 MOT tests, over a third of all Fiat tests in Great Britain. The 500 passes at 65.2%, below the national average. The Panda, Ducato van, and Punto come next by number of tests.
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 a little below the national average in the early years, and the gap grows from age 6 onward. At age 3, Fiats pass at 86.2% vs 87.5% nationally. By age 6, Fiats trail at 79.4% vs 81.6%, and by age 10 the gap widens to 64.7% vs 69.7%.
The middle years show the biggest gap, at around ages 8 to 10. After that the gap narrows. At age 12, Fiats pass at 63.0% vs 64.1% nationally, and by 16 they are level at 56.9%. From age 17, Fiats pass at about the national rate or a little above it, and at age 20 they sit at 57.0% vs 56.9%. Older Fiats still on the road may be cars that have been well looked after.
What are the most common Fiat faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Fiat, ranked by the share of failed tests they were found on. 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 (found on 19.94% of failed Fiat tests)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Pin or bush excessively worn (found on 10.93% of failed Fiat tests)
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 (found on 7.83% of failed Fiat tests)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.
- Efficiency below requirements (found on 7.16% of failed Fiat tests)
- Fractured or broken (found on 6.81% of failed Fiat tests)
A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.
Fiat's failure profile shows one clear tilt. Suspension faults are found on 40.5% of failed tests vs 32.4% nationally, likely linked to the older Fiat 500 and Panda models on UK roads. Lamps and electrical faults, found on 38.1% of failed tests, sit just below the national 38.2%. Brakes at 21.6% sit close to the national 22.4%.
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 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 285,672 | 65.2% | Suspension |
| Fiat Panda | 79,608 | 63.1% | Suspension |
| Fiat Ducato | 65,520 | 72.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Punto | 46,467 | 54.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Doblo | 37,022 | 62.2% | Suspension |
| Fiat 500x | 32,467 | 71.2% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat 500c | 16,243 | 64.3% | Suspension |
| Fiat 500l | 16,167 | 61.0% | Suspension |
| Fiat 500 Dolcevita Mhev | 13,006 | 89.8% | Tyres |
| Fiat Tipo | 11,511 | 70.9% | Suspension |
| Fiat Auto Trail | 9,327 | 88.8% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat Swift | 6,809 | 89.7% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Fiat 500 Lounge Mhev | 6,616 | 86.5% | Tyres |
| Fiat Fiorino | 6,356 | 59.5% | Suspension |
| Fiat Scudo | 6,239 | 49.9% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The Ducato van (72.3%) and 500X crossover (71.2%) lead the popular Fiat range. The high-volume Fiat 500 sits at 65.2% and the 500C convertible at 64.3%. The Panda passes at 63.1% and the Doblo van at 62.2%. The 500L (61.0%) and Punto (54.5%) pull the low end, and the older Scudo van at 49.9% 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 26,000 miles vs 34,000 nationally. At age 10, 62,000 vs 83,000, and by age 20 the gap is 71,000 vs 109,000. The city-car profile of the range likely helps keep 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 data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.