2018 Fiat Rapdio — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Fiat Rapdio passed 94.3% of its 511 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.9%) and visibility (2.4%) 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 18 times.
The trend is worsening — 1.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 25 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 12 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.2% | 6 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 5 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 4 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 3 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 2 |
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 | 5.7% | 29 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 9 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 5 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 2 |
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 | 461 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 45 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 109 | 1.8% |
| 2022 | 102 | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 99 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 98 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 103 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Rapdio
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
- Tyres (1.2% 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 2018 Fiat Rapdios pass their MOT?
94.3% of the 511 2018 Fiat Rapdio MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Rapdio?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2018 Rapdio get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 511 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.