2018 Fiat -Trail — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,206 MOT tests, the 2018 Fiat -Trail recorded a 95.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 11.0% of the time, so this is 6.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.0%) and visibility (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and outline marker lamp — wipers alone was recorded 280 times.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 5.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 329 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 239 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 87 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 54 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 32 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 280 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 245 |
| 3 | Outline marker lamp | 51 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 50 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 49 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 44 |
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 | 6.7% | 548 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 159 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 149 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 117 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 89 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.9% | 73 |
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 | 7,754 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 421 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,652 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 1,674 | 4.2% |
| 2023 | 1,687 | 5.3% |
| 2024 | 1,567 | 5.0% |
| 2025 | 1,626 | 5.7% |
What to check before buying a 2018 -Trail
On a 2018 -Trail, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.9% 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.
- Brakes (1.1% 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 -Trails pass their MOT?
95.2% of the 8,206 2018 Fiat -Trail MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat -Trail?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.9%).
Does the 2018 -Trail get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,206 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.