2018 Fiat Fullback — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Fiat Fullback passed 89.2% of its 5,516 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 11.0%, so the 2018 Fullback sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.4%) and brakes (5.0%) 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 197 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 14.8% versus 6.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 355 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 273 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 188 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.4% | 132 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 80 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 38 |
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 | 197 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 177 |
| 3 | Wipers | 140 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 113 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 89 |
| 6 | Washers | 83 |
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 | 18.5% | 1,020 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.4% | 962 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 257 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.6% | 256 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.5% | 246 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 192 |
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 | 939 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,292 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,446 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 604 | 12.4% |
| 120-150k | 181 | 14.4% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 14.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,066 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 1,119 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 1,117 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 1,130 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 1,084 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Fullback
On a 2018 Fullback, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% 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 (3.4% 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 2018 Fiat Fullbacks pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 5,516 2018 Fiat Fullback MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Fullback?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by brakes (5.0%).
Does the 2018 Fullback get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 14.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,516 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.