2014 Fiat -Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
3,361 MOT tests on the 2014 Fiat -Trail are in this dataset, and 91.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 18.3% of the time, so this is 10.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.7%) and brakes (1.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and srs malfunction indicator lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 108 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 7.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 9.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 158 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.9% | 65 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 58 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.4% | 48 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 46 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 32 |
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 | 108 |
| 2 | Wipers | 51 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 41 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 34 |
| 5 | Outline marker lamp | 32 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 30 |
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 | 9.0% | 303 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 144 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.1% | 137 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 118 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.2% | 74 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.0% | 66 |
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 | 2,369 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 934 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 48 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 677 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 668 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 673 | 8.8% |
| 2024 | 654 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 689 | 10.2% |
What to check before buying a 2014 -Trail
On a 2014 -Trail, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.9% 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.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2014 Fiat -Trails pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 3,361 2014 Fiat -Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Fiat -Trail?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by brakes (1.9%).
Does the 2014 -Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,361 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.