2008 Fiat Sedici — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,285 MOT tests, the 2008 Fiat Sedici recorded a 69.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 2008 Sedici comes out 4.1pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 19.5% of all tests — 7.6 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and rigid brake pipes — ball joint alone was recorded 218 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.1% in the 30-60k band and 38.0% in the 150k+ band, a 15.0-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (31.2% vs 29.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.5% | 445 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 271 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 266 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 145 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.4% | 124 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 116 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 218 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 196 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 185 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 137 |
| 5 | Wipers | 94 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 91 |
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 | 38.1% | 871 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.6% | 860 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.2% | 576 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.8% | 337 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 333 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 329 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 269 | 23.1% |
| 60-90k | 739 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 830 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 308 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 113 | 38.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,461 | 29.6% |
| Diesel | 824 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 578 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 553 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 471 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 381 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 302 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Sedici
On a 2008 Sedici, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.5% 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 (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.6% 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
How many 2008 Fiat Sedicis pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 2,285 2008 Fiat Sedici MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Fiat Sedici?
Suspension, recorded in 19.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.9%).
Does the 2008 Sedici get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.1% in the 30-60k band to 38.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,285 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.