2000 Fiat Seicento — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,440 MOT tests analysed for the 2000 Fiat Seicento, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 68.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (75.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 46.7% in the 120-150k group versus 25.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 291 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.9% | 258 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 135 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 132 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.1% | 131 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 101 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 202 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 167 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 124 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 115 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 97 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 96 |
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 | 31.3% | 450 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.5% | 410 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 21.7% | 313 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.3% | 306 |
| 5 | Tyres | 20.8% | 299 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.5% | 166 |
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 | 254 | 25.6% |
| 30-60k | 602 | 31.2% |
| 60-90k | 425 | 34.1% |
| 90-120k | 127 | 35.4% |
| 120-150k | 30 | 46.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 441 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 344 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 271 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 206 | 31.6% |
| 2025 | 178 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Seicento
Before buying a 2000 Fiat Seicento, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.9% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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
How many 2000 Fiat Seicentos pass their MOT?
68.2% of the 1,440 2000 Fiat Seicento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Fiat Seicento?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by brakes (17.9%).
Does the 2000 Seicento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 0-30k band to 46.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,440 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.