2003 Fiat Seicento — MOT failures & pass rate
3,606 MOT tests on the 2003 Fiat Seicento are in this dataset, and 68.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 4.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (18.7%) and lighting & signalling (15.9%) 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 483 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 41.2% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.8% in 2021 to 30.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.7% | 674 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 572 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 412 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 380 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.9% | 285 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 245 |
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 | 483 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 412 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 272 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 260 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 207 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 205 |
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 | 37.4% | 1,348 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.3% | 1,272 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.5% | 848 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 766 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 559 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 371 |
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 | 433 | 24.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,539 | 29.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,211 | 36.1% |
| 90-120k | 312 | 35.6% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 41.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,096 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 832 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 678 | 32.0% |
| 2024 | 552 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 448 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Seicento
On a 2003 Seicento, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (18.7% 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 (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% 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 2003 Fiat Seicentos pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 3,606 2003 Fiat Seicento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Fiat Seicento?
Brakes, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.9%).
Does the 2003 Seicento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.0% in the 0-30k band to 41.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,606 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.