2018 Fiat Talento — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Fiat Talento passed 81.2% of its 1,581 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (11.1% fail rate), the 2018 Talento comes out 7.8pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 10.0% of tests against 6.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, track rod end and brake pads — shock absorbers alone was recorded 67 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.1% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.0% | 158 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 102 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 67 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 60 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 57 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 53 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 67 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 62 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 55 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 55 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 52 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 46 |
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 | 19.0% | 300 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.9% | 299 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.5% | 277 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.6% | 151 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 117 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 99 |
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 | 214 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 492 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 411 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 260 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 136 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 65 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 302 | 13.3% |
| 2022 | 302 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 328 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 330 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 319 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Talento
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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.
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 2018 Fiat Talentos pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 1,581 2018 Fiat Talento MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat Talento?
Suspension, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.5%).
Does the 2018 Talento get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,581 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.