Fiat Croma MOT pass rate & common failures
The Fiat Croma appears in 1,029 MOT tests spanning model years 1988–2021, and 73.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.6%, so the Croma sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.7%) and suspension (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 83 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.2% in the 30-60k band and 31.9% in the 150k+ band, a 8.8-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.8% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Croma model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 194 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 605 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 134 | 77.6% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 122 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.8% | 90 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 65 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.0% | 62 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 49 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 44 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.6% | 27 |
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 | 83 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 67 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 49 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 41 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 31 |
| 6 | Washers | 30 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 8 | Individual direction indicators | 28 |
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 | 34.5% | 355 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.0% | 350 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.4% | 292 |
| 4 | Other defects | 22.1% | 227 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 175 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 172 |
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 | 69 | 23.2% |
| 60-90k | 238 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 306 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 256 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 144 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 830 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 199 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 351 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 268 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 177 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 137 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 96 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Croma
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.9% 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.
- Brakes (8.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Croma?
73.4% of the 1,029 Fiat Croma MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 26.6% fail rate, across model years 1988–2021.
What does the Fiat Croma most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, then suspension (11.9%).
How much does mileage affect Croma MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.2% for cars in the 30-60k band and 31.9% for 150k+, a 8.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,029 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.