Fiat Seicento MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 23 model years and 11,517 tests, the Fiat Seicento passes its MOT 68.5% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the Seicento comes out 4.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (18.1%) and lighting & signalling (16.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — service brake performance alone was recorded 1,436 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 23.3% in the 0-30k band and 37.8% in the 150k+ band, a 14.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 30.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Seicento model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 267 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 858 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 1,440 | 68.2% | 31.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 2,335 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 2,981 | 68.5% | 31.5% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 3,606 | 68.0% | 32.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.1% | 2,084 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 1,950 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 1,196 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 1,133 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.1% | 938 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 704 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.4% | 511 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 267 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 1,436 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,398 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 796 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 761 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 671 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 665 |
| 7 | Catalyst emissions | 605 |
| 8 | Washers | 571 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.2% | 3,819 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.3% | 3,723 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.9% | 2,526 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.1% | 2,432 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 2,123 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 1,037 |
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 | 1,510 | 23.3% |
| 30-60k | 4,992 | 30.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,710 | 34.4% |
| 90-120k | 998 | 34.8% |
| 120-150k | 245 | 38.0% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 37.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,534 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 2,727 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 2,200 | 31.7% |
| 2024 | 1,695 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 1,361 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Seicento
- Brakes (18.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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.
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 Seicento?
68.5% of the 11,517 Fiat Seicento MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 31.5% fail rate, across model years 1997–2019.
What does the Fiat Seicento most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 18.1% of tests, then lighting & signalling (16.9%).
How much does mileage affect Seicento MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 37.8% for 150k+, a 14.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,517 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.