Fiat Tribute MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 17 model years and 1,956 tests, the Fiat Tribute passes its MOT 89.3% of the time. That is 8.6 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.3%) and suspension (2.6%) 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 srs malfunction indicator lamp — wipers alone was recorded 55 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 90-120k — 3.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tribute model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 221 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 135 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 175 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Seat belts & restraints |
| 2013 | 422 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Suspension |
| 2014 | 226 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Visibility |
| 2015 | 244 | 86.5% | 13.5% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 351 | 93.2% | 6.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 62 | 93.5% | 6.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 85 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.6% | 51 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.6% | 50 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 49 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.0% | 39 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 24 |
| 7 | Tyres | 1.2% | 23 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 55 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 45 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 21 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 21 |
| 7 | Rbt (sp) | 19 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 13 |
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 | 10.9% | 214 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.2% | 179 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 176 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 102 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 59 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 47 |
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 | 867 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 851 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 16.6% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 389 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 390 | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 390 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 396 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 391 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Tribute
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.6% 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 (2.6% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Tribute?
89.3% of the 1,956 Fiat Tribute MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.7% fail rate, across model years 2003–2019.
What does the Fiat Tribute most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, then suspension (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect Tribute MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 24.3% for 90-120k, a 17.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,956 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.