2011 Fiat Qubo — MOT failures & pass rate
4,254 MOT tests on the 2011 Fiat Qubo are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2011 Qubo sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 6.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, shock absorbers and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 304 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 0-30k band and 25.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.6-point spread.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 2.8pp more often than diesel ones (26.4% vs 23.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 584 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 327 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 248 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 180 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.1% | 176 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 150 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 304 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 283 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 141 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 131 |
| 5 | Wipers | 106 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 92 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 28.5% | 1,212 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.9% | 974 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 713 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.9% | 462 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.0% | 426 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 382 |
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 | 361 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,250 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,466 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 865 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 230 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 67 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,568 | 23.6% |
| Petrol | 686 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 932 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 897 | 22.4% |
| 2023 | 888 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 787 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 750 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Qubo
On a 2011 Qubo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 2011 Fiat Qubos pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 4,254 2011 Fiat Qubo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Fiat Qubo?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.7%).
Does the 2011 Qubo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,254 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.