2016 Fiat 124 — MOT failures & pass rate
3,509 MOT tests on the 2016 Fiat 124 are in this dataset, and 90.0% of them passed. That is 4.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) and brakes (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and position lamp — wipers alone was recorded 98 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.0% once past 60-90k — 2.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 18.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 149 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.3% | 115 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.2% | 113 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.4% | 83 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 79 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 98 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 84 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 57 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 55 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 52 |
| 6 | Washers | 48 |
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 | 18.6% | 651 |
| 2 | Tyres | 16.9% | 594 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 272 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 101 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 89 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.1% | 73 |
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 | 1,956 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,338 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 194 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 684 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 701 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 706 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 695 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 723 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 124
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.2% 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 2016 Fiat 124s pass their MOT?
90.0% of the 3,509 2016 Fiat 124 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat 124?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.3%).
Does the 2016 124 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 17.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,509 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.