2017 Fiat 124 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,468 MOT tests, the 2017 Fiat 124 recorded a 91.2% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (12.7% fail rate), the 2017 124 comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.1%) and brakes (3.1%) 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 106 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.4% versus 6.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 184 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.1% | 139 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 114 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.2% | 100 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 67 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 106 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 92 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 81 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 77 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 55 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 53 |
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 | 17.0% | 760 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 755 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 183 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.2% | 98 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 94 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 92 |
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 | 2,989 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,321 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 144 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 878 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 890 | 6.9% |
| 2023 | 908 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 888 | 10.5% |
| 2025 | 904 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 124
On a 2017 124, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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 (2.5% 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 Fiat 124s pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 4,468 2017 Fiat 124 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Fiat 124?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by brakes (3.1%).
Does the 2017 124 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 19.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,468 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.