2016 Fiat Fullback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Fiat Fullback passed 86.8% of its 1,771 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 14.5% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.7% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and brake pads — position lamp alone was recorded 124 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.3% versus 8.4%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 24.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 171 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.6% | 99 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.9% | 69 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 45 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.2% | 39 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 124 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 72 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 58 |
| 4 | Wipers | 51 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 39 |
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 | 24.8% | 440 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.4% | 325 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 185 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 99 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.6% | 82 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 60 |
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 | 83 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 499 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 634 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 333 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 151 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 71 | 18.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 340 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 358 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 376 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 344 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 353 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Fullback
On a 2016 Fullback, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.6% 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 (3.9% 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
How many 2016 Fiat Fullbacks pass their MOT?
86.8% of the 1,771 2016 Fiat Fullback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat Fullback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.6%).
Does the 2016 Fullback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,771 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.