2007 Fiat Bravo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Fiat Bravo passed 67.7% of its 10,238 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 5.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.2%) and lighting & signalling (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, exhaust system and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 786 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.6% once past 150k — 2.9× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 32.0% of the time against 33.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.2% | 1,765 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 1,474 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 1,128 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 1,100 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 802 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.7% | 790 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 786 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 592 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 552 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 532 |
| 5 | Joints | 494 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 489 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.8% | 3,770 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.5% | 3,227 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.3% | 3,101 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.7% | 2,327 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.5% | 1,687 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.4% | 1,677 |
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 | 41 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 811 | 22.3% |
| 60-90k | 3,284 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,774 | 33.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,746 | 36.1% |
| 150k+ | 581 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,423 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 2,815 | 33.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,558 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 2,578 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 1,911 | 32.5% |
| 2024 | 1,325 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 866 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Bravo
On a 2007 Bravo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (17.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (14.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.0% 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 2007 Fiat Bravos pass their MOT?
67.7% of the 10,238 2007 Fiat Bravo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Fiat Bravo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.4%).
Does the 2007 Bravo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,238 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.