Fiat 124 MOT pass rate & common failures
15,283 MOT tests on the Fiat 124 (1980–2021) give it a 91.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 12.4% of the time, so this is 3.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.2%) and visibility (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 404 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.2% once past 90-120k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every 124 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,509 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 4,468 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 7,072 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 77 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 641 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 458 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.9% | 438 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 347 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 224 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 87 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.3% | 38 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 404 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 311 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 296 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 245 |
| 5 | Washers | 180 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 153 |
| 7 | Coil spring | 147 |
| 8 | Service brake performance | 126 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.0% | 2,591 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.7% | 2,545 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 735 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 381 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 348 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.1% | 315 |
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 | 10,239 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,434 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 514 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,025 | 6.1% |
| 2022 | 3,065 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 3,092 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 3,023 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 3,078 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a Fiat 124
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% 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.
- Brakes (2.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 Fiat 124?
91.2% of the 15,283 Fiat 124 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.8% fail rate, across model years 1980–2021.
What does the Fiat 124 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.2% of tests, then visibility (3.0%).
How much does mileage affect 124 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 18.2% for 90-120k, a 11.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,283 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.