2011 Fiat -Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 594 MOT tests, the 2011 Fiat -Trail recorded an 89.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2011 -Trail comes out 12.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 3.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are outline marker lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — outline marker lamp alone was recorded 25 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 49 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 18 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 14 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outline marker lamp | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 5 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 11 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 12.6% | 75 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 51 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.9% | 47 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 31 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 12 |
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 | 261 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 318 | 12.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 9.7% |
| 2022 | 124 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 117 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 120 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 119 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 -Trail
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2011 Fiat -Trails pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 594 2011 Fiat -Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Fiat -Trail?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.0%).
Does the 2011 -Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 12.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 594 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.