2000 Fiat Barchetta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 312 MOT tests, the 2000 Fiat Barchetta recorded a 77.9% pass rate. That is 4.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), integral vehicle structure condition and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 41.3% once past 120-150k — 2.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.2% in 2021 to 16.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 35 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 29 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 25 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 12 |
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) | 16 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 16 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Joints | 14 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 14 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 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 | 26.6% | 83 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.5% | 67 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 42 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.3% | 29 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 17 |
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 | 92 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 72 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 63 | 20.6% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 41.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 67 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 53 | 17.0% |
| 2024 | 70 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 49 | 16.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Barchetta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.3% 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+.
- Brakes (8.0% 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
How many 2000 Fiat Barchettas pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 312 2000 Fiat Barchetta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Fiat Barchetta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.3%).
Does the 2000 Barchetta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 30-60k band to 41.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 312 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.