Fiat Fullback MOT pass rate & common failures
The Fiat Fullback appears in 15,717 MOT tests spanning model years 2016–2019, and 88.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 12.1%, so the Fullback sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.5%) and brakes (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 553 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.1% versus 6.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Fullback model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,771 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 7,218 | 88.8% | 11.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 5,516 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 1,212 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 1,019 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 827 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 597 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.4% | 373 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 254 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 111 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 110 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 45 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 553 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 444 |
| 3 | Wipers | 400 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 365 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 313 |
| 6 | Washers | 293 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 286 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 202 |
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 | 20.1% | 3,163 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.4% | 2,738 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 1,007 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 753 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.8% | 753 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 560 |
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 | 2,107 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,294 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,491 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,932 | 13.0% |
| 120-150k | 659 | 17.0% |
| 150k+ | 234 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,873 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 3,233 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 3,276 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 3,192 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 3,143 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Fullback
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Visibility (3.8% 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.
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 Fullback?
88.7% of the 15,717 Fiat Fullback MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.3% fail rate, across model years 2016–2019.
What does the Fiat Fullback most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.5% of tests, then brakes (5.3%).
How much does mileage affect Fullback MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.1% for 150k+, a 7.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,717 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.