Fiat Idea MOT pass rate & common failures
3,338 MOT tests on the Fiat Idea (2004–2020) give it a 69.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 2.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and suspension (13.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 213 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 37.3% versus 18.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 29.4% of the time against 30.5% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Idea model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,212 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 860 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 951 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 306 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 463 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.5% | 452 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 388 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.6% | 253 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 244 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 233 |
| 7 | Brakes | 5.9% | 197 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 164 |
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 | 213 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 192 |
| 3 | Wipers | 173 |
| 4 | Joints | 173 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 160 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 153 |
| 7 | Tread depth | 147 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 131 |
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 | 37.4% | 1,249 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.5% | 1,119 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.9% | 763 |
| 4 | Brakes | 21.5% | 717 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 545 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.3% | 509 |
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 | 77 | 18.2% |
| 30-60k | 746 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,287 | 30.4% |
| 90-120k | 953 | 33.5% |
| 120-150k | 208 | 32.2% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 37.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,331 | 30.5% |
| Diesel | 1,007 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,171 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 845 | 29.6% |
| 2023 | 610 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 415 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 297 | 32.0% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Idea
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 Idea?
69.8% of the 3,338 Fiat Idea MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.2% fail rate, across model years 2004–2020.
What does the Fiat Idea most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then suspension (13.5%).
How much does mileage affect Idea MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 37.3% for 150k+, a 19.1-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Idea more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 29.4% of the time against 30.5% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,338 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.