1998 Fiat Barchetta — MOT failures & pass rate
482 MOT tests on the 1998 Fiat Barchetta are in this dataset, and 76.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), the 1998 Barchetta comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 13.1% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 37 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.1% | 63 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 44 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 43 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 21 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.4% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 37 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 30 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 22 |
| 5 | Joints | 21 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 20 |
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 | 28.0% | 135 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.5% | 123 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 65 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.9% | 62 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 61 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.3% | 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 | 36 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 127 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 181 | 23.8% |
| 90-120k | 85 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 105 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 90 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 87 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 90 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Barchetta
On a 1998 Barchetta, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (13.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.9% 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 1998 Fiat Barchettas pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 482 1998 Fiat Barchetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Fiat Barchetta?
Brakes, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.1%).
Does the 1998 Barchetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 482 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.