2017 Abarth 124 Spider Multiair — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Abarth 124 Spider Multiair passed 91.8% of its 2,241 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 12.7% of the time, so this is 4.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.5%) and tyres (2.3%) 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 tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 42 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 6.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 78 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.3% | 51 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 47 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.8% | 41 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 21 |
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 | 42 |
| 2 | Wipers | 41 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 22 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 18 |
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 | 16.2% | 362 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 327 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 107 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 56 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 41 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 35 |
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 | 1,347 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 783 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 102 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 441 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 453 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 457 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 434 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 456 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 124 Spider Multiair
On a 2017 124 Spider Multiair, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Tyres (2.3% 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.
- 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Abarth 124 Spider Multiairs pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 2,241 2017 Abarth 124 Spider Multiair MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Abarth 124 Spider Multiair?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by tyres (2.3%).
Does the 2017 124 Spider Multiair get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,241 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.