2007 Fiat Stilo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Fiat Stilo passed 69.4% of its 663 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests against 16.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 77 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 35.2% versus 21.7%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 35.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.3% | 128 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.3% | 108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 57 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 57 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.4% | 49 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 48 |
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 | 77 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 55 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 43 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 37 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 35 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 35 |
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 | 35.6% | 236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.7% | 197 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.8% | 191 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.9% | 132 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 122 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 113 |
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 | 120 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 250 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 173 | 34.1% |
| 120-150k | 88 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 525 | 30.1% |
| Diesel | 138 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 210 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 160 | 33.1% |
| 2023 | 132 | 31.8% |
| 2024 | 87 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 74 | 35.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Stilo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.3% 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.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 2007 Fiat Stilos pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 663 2007 Fiat Stilo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Fiat Stilo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by suspension (16.3%).
Does the 2007 Stilo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.7% in the 30-60k band to 35.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 663 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.