Fiat Rapdio MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 20 model years and 3,291 tests, the Fiat Rapdio passes its MOT 92.2% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 14.5% of the time, so this is 6.7pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.3%) and visibility (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and srs malfunction indicator lamp — wipers alone was recorded 93 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 15.5% in the 60-90k band, a 8.5-point spread — more than double.
The trend is worsening — 5.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Rapdio model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 90 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 414 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 681 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 514 | 91.3% | 8.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 526 | 93.7% | 6.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 511 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 322 | 95.3% | 4.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 80 | 88.8% | 11.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 174 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 87 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.6% | 54 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.5% | 50 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.6% | 20 |
| 7 | Suspension | 0.6% | 20 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 93 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 43 |
| 4 | Outline marker lamp | 38 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 26 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 20 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 18 |
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 | 7.1% | 234 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 159 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.0% | 131 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 127 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 73 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.4% | 46 |
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 | 2,451 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 751 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 84 | 15.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 571 | 5.8% |
| 2022 | 638 | 6.9% |
| 2023 | 683 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 684 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 715 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Rapdio
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.6% 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.
- Brakes (1.6% 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 Rapdio?
92.2% of the 3,291 Fiat Rapdio MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.8% fail rate, across model years 2003–2022.
What does the Fiat Rapdio most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.3% of tests, then visibility (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect Rapdio MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 15.5% for 60-90k, a 8.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,291 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.