2001 Fiat Seicento — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,335 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Fiat Seicento, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 68.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (74.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.2% | 426 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 423 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 232 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 223 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 183 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 133 |
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 | 342 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 294 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 204 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 141 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 138 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 135 |
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 | 31.9% | 745 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.6% | 737 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.2% | 542 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.9% | 489 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 441 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 212 |
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 | 312 | 25.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,069 | 32.6% |
| 60-90k | 695 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 202 | 37.1% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 729 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 550 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 462 | 33.3% |
| 2024 | 331 | 30.2% |
| 2025 | 263 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Seicento
Before buying a 2001 Fiat Seicento, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 18.2% of tests for this year.
- Brakes (18.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.9% 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 2001 Fiat Seicentos pass their MOT?
68.4% of the 2,335 2001 Fiat Seicento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Fiat Seicento?
Brakes, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.1%).
Does the 2001 Seicento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,335 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.