2018 Fiat Burstner — MOT failures & pass rate
762 MOT tests on the 2018 Fiat Burstner are in this dataset, and 94.9% of them passed. That is 5.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) and visibility (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and outline marker lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 30 times.
The trend is worsening — 2.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 6.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 33 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 20 |
| 3 | Brakes | 0.9% | 7 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 7 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.5% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 30 |
| 2 | Wipers | 18 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 8 |
| 4 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 7 |
| 5 | Washers | 4 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 4 |
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 | 5.4% | 41 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 19 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 14 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.8% | 14 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 8 |
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 | 710 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 51 | 7.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 149 | 2.7% |
| 2022 | 152 | 4.6% |
| 2023 | 155 | 6.5% |
| 2024 | 156 | 5.8% |
| 2025 | 150 | 6.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Burstner
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.6% 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.
- Brakes (0.9% 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 2018 Fiat Burstners pass their MOT?
94.9% of the 762 2018 Fiat Burstner MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Burstner?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2018 Burstner get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 7.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 762 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.