2018 Fiat Qubo — MOT failures & pass rate
696 MOT tests on the 2018 Fiat Qubo are in this dataset, and 85.8% of them passed. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 12.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.8%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, coil spring and shock absorbers — wipers alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.2% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.8% | 40 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 30 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 24 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.5% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 14 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.7% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 26 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 25 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 21 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 13 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
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 | 21.8% | 152 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 57 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 43 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.7% | 26 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 24 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 8 |
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 | 509 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 146 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 33 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 421 | 14.7% |
| Petrol | 275 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 133 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 142 | 12.7% |
| 2024 | 145 | 20.7% |
| 2025 | 141 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Qubo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (5.8% 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 (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2018 Fiat Qubos pass their MOT?
85.8% of the 696 2018 Fiat Qubo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Qubo?
Suspension, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2018 Qubo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 696 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.