Fiat Multipla MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 20 model years and 7,250 tests, the Fiat Multipla passes its MOT 67.3% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the Multipla comes out 6.4pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 18.4% of tests against 14.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, rbt (sp) and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 539 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.4% versus 27.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 32.7% of the time against 33.4% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.4% in 2021 to 31.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Multipla model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 149 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 246 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 368 | 65.8% | 34.2% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 706 | 66.3% | 33.7% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 723 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 807 | 66.9% | 33.1% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 661 | 63.2% | 36.8% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 813 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 771 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 723 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 822 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 455 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.4% | 1,337 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 1,039 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 841 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 704 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.1% | 515 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 415 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 397 |
| 8 | Steering | 5.1% | 372 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 539 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 360 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 360 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 354 |
| 5 | Wipers | 270 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 266 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 261 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 260 |
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 | 40.2% | 2,914 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.5% | 2,354 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.6% | 2,075 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.0% | 1,305 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 1,029 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 1,009 |
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 | 211 | 27.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,183 | 29.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,916 | 32.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,924 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,351 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 656 | 35.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,390 | 32.7% |
| Petrol | 860 | 33.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,273 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 1,774 | 32.2% |
| 2023 | 1,365 | 32.2% |
| 2024 | 1,053 | 33.7% |
| 2025 | 785 | 31.6% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Multipla
- Suspension (18.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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.
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 Multipla?
67.3% of the 7,250 Fiat Multipla MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 32.7% fail rate, across model years 2000–2019.
What does the Fiat Multipla most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 18.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (14.3%).
How much does mileage affect Multipla MOT results?
Fail rates run at 27.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.4% for 150k+, a 8.4-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Multipla more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 32.7% of the time against 33.4% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,250 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.