Fiat Motor/Caravan MOT pass rate & common failures
3,562 MOT tests on the Fiat Motor/Caravan (1980–2022) give it a 78.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.6% of the time, so this is 4.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests against 8.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 192 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.9% in the 0-30k band and 32.4% in the 150k+ band, a 22.5-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Motor/Caravan model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 32 | 56.3% | 43.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 90 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 65 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 38 | 57.9% | 42.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 31 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 44 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 71 | 66.2% | 33.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 92 | 79.3% | 20.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 144 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 249 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 188 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 193 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 303 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 300 | 80.3% | 19.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 229 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 226 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 283 | 85.2% | 14.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 184 | 82.6% | 17.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 123 | 87.0% | 13.0% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 97 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 184 | 87.0% | 13.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 197 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 39 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 494 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.0% | 285 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 227 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.7% | 203 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 194 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 72 |
| 7 | Tyres | 1.9% | 68 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 43 |
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 | 192 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 170 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 163 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 140 |
| 5 | Wipers | 121 |
| 6 | Washers | 110 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 107 |
| 8 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 94 |
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 | 20.9% | 743 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.8% | 740 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.7% | 488 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 436 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.3% | 403 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 248 |
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 | 506 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,563 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 810 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 364 | 28.8% |
| 120-150k | 167 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 148 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,529 | 21.2% |
| Petrol | 33 | 36.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 748 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 728 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 718 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 683 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 685 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Motor/Caravan
- 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.
- Brakes (8.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.4% 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 Motor/Caravan?
78.6% of the 3,562 Fiat Motor/Caravan MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.4% fail rate, across model years 1980–2022.
What does the Fiat Motor/Caravan most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then brakes (8.0%).
How much does mileage affect Motor/Caravan MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.4% for 150k+, a 22.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,562 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.