2010 Fiat Qubo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Fiat Qubo passed 73.0% of its 4,353 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 2010 Qubo comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (14.5%) and lighting & signalling (11.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, coil spring and position lamp — shock absorbers alone was recorded 299 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 24.4% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 4.6-point spread.
The diesel cars hold up better: 26.2% fail against 28.8% for petrol, a 2.6-point gap across 4,353 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.5% | 631 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 514 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 267 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 226 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.8% | 210 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 205 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 299 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 269 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 171 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 159 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 151 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 145 |
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 | 29.9% | 1,302 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 1,274 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.3% | 753 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 567 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 492 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 412 |
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 | 381 | 24.4% |
| 30-60k | 944 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,440 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 996 | 29.4% |
| 120-150k | 388 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 138 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,014 | 26.2% |
| Petrol | 1,339 | 28.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 957 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 903 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 911 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 837 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 745 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Qubo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2010 Fiat Qubos pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 4,353 2010 Fiat Qubo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Fiat Qubo?
Suspension, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 2010 Qubo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.4% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,353 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.