2007 Fiat Idea — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Fiat Idea passed 72.5% of its 306 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (11.8%) and lighting & signalling (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, joints and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 27 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 34.3% versus 21.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 36 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 35 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.5% | 32 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.5% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 27 |
| 2 | Joints | 23 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 13 |
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 | 39.5% | 121 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.7% | 103 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.5% | 81 |
| 4 | Brakes | 23.9% | 73 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.0% | 49 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 48 |
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 | 47 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 102 | 34.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 154 | 29.9% |
| Diesel | 152 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 23.3% |
| 2022 | 70 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 65 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 47 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 38 | 34.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Idea
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: body, structure & corrosion accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.8% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
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 2007 Fiat Ideas pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 306 2007 Fiat Idea MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Fiat Idea?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.4%).
Does the 2007 Idea get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 30-60k band to 34.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 306 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.