Fiat Sedici MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 16 model years and 9,431 tests, the Fiat Sedici passes its MOT 69.7% of the time. That is 3.8 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.5%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.4% of all tests — 7.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, ball joint and rigid brake pipes — coil spring alone was recorded 855 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.8% in the 0-30k band and 34.4% in the 150k+ band, a 20.6-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 29.8% of the time against 31.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Sedici model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,829 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 2,985 | 69.0% | 31.0% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 2,285 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 1,287 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.4% | 1,833 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 1,161 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 1,150 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 794 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 509 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 509 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.4% | 506 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 64 |
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 | 855 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 846 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 774 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 586 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 480 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 401 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 385 |
| 8 | Wipers | 370 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.8% | 3,660 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.2% | 3,508 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.2% | 2,468 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 1,589 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.8% | 1,396 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.0% | 1,320 |
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 | 116 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,015 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,964 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,346 | 32.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,550 | 33.9% |
| 150k+ | 436 | 34.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,975 | 29.8% |
| Diesel | 3,456 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,570 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 2,185 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 1,896 | 29.9% |
| 2024 | 1,574 | 31.2% |
| 2025 | 1,206 | 30.2% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Sedici
- Suspension (19.4% 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 (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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 Sedici?
69.7% of the 9,431 Fiat Sedici MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.3% fail rate, across model years 2006–2021.
What does the Fiat Sedici most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 19.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.3%).
How much does mileage affect Sedici MOT results?
Fail rates run at 13.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.4% for 150k+, a 20.6-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Sedici more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 29.8% of the time against 31.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,431 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.