1996 Fiat Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Fiat Coupe passed 71.6% of its 299 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (24.7% fail rate), the 1996 Coupe comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 16.4% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 32 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 37.8% versus 20.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 35.3% in 2021 to 19.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.4% | 49 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 37 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 27 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 22 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 32 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 20 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 20 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 17 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 12 |
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 | 35.1% | 105 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.8% | 86 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.4% | 76 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.7% | 47 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 44 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 34 |
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 | 35 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 31.4% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 37.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 | 35.3% |
| 2022 | 76 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 54 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 49 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 52 | 19.2% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Coupe
On a 1996 Coupe, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (16.4% 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 (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1996 Fiat Coupes pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 299 1996 Fiat Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Fiat Coupe?
Brakes, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.4%).
Does the 1996 Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 37.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 299 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.