Abarth 124 Spider Multiair MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 4 model years and 8,988 tests, the Abarth 124 Spider Multiair passes its MOT 92.8% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (11.7% fail rate), the 124 Spider Multiair comes out 4.5pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.5%) and visibility (2.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 182 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.0% once past 60-90k — 3.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every 124 Spider Multiair model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 938 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 2,241 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 4,815 | 92.9% | 7.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 994 | 94.5% | 5.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 310 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.1% | 184 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.9% | 175 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 169 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 77 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.3% | 23 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 182 |
| 2 | Wipers | 153 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 102 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 81 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 76 |
| 6 | Washers | 73 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 68 |
| 8 | Brake discs | 67 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 15.3% | 1,375 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 1,271 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 359 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 215 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 163 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 156 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 6,351 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,358 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 258 | 19.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,598 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | 1,888 | 6.6% |
| 2023 | 1,845 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 1,787 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 1,870 | 10.1% |
What to check before buying a Abarth 124 Spider Multiair
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (1.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Abarth 124 Spider Multiair?
92.8% of the 8,988 Abarth 124 Spider Multiair MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.2% fail rate, across model years 2016–2019.
What does the Abarth 124 Spider Multiair most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, then visibility (2.1%).
How much does mileage affect 124 Spider Multiair MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.0% for 60-90k, a 13.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,988 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.