1996 Fiat Barchetta — MOT failures & pass rate
254 MOT tests on the 1996 Fiat Barchetta are in this dataset, and 74.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 24.6%, so the 1996 Barchetta sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.8% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake imbalance, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — service brake imbalance alone was recorded 24 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.0% versus 20.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2022 to 27.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.8% | 40 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 24 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 21 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.9% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake imbalance | 24 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 23 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 6 | Joints | 11 |
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 | 22.1% | 56 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.5% | 42 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 39 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 37 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.4% | 29 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 83 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 67 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 27.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 67 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 58 | 27.6% |
| 2024 | 53 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 48 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Barchetta
On a 1996 Barchetta, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (15.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 1996 Fiat Barchettas pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 254 1996 Fiat Barchetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Fiat Barchetta?
Brakes, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.4%).
Does the 1996 Barchetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 30-60k band to 27.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 254 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.