Fiat Coupe MOT pass rate & common failures
5,306 MOT tests on the Fiat Coupe (1981–2020) give it a 74.7% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 25.6%, so the Coupe sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (14.7%) and lighting & signalling (13.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 501 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.7% in the 0-30k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 12.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.0% in 2021 to 23.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Coupe model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 158 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 299 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 1,169 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 1,605 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 1,176 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 818 | 75.2% | 24.8% | Brakes |
| 2001 | 40 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.7% | 779 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 687 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 396 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 376 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.3% | 334 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 328 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.0% | 158 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 142 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 501 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 458 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 429 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 316 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 243 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 237 |
| 7 | Washers | 231 |
| 8 | Rigid brake pipes | 188 |
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 | 29.0% | 1,539 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.1% | 1,385 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 876 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 823 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.1% | 801 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 585 |
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 | 70 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 595 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,654 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,541 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,015 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 428 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,212 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 1,126 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 1,036 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 984 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 948 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Coupe
- Brakes (14.7% 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 (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Coupe?
74.7% of the 5,306 Fiat Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.3% fail rate, across model years 1981–2020.
What does the Fiat Coupe most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 14.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (13.0%).
How much does mileage affect Coupe MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.5% for 150k+, a 12.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,306 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.