Fiat Uno MOT pass rate & common failures
1,006 MOT tests on the Fiat Uno (1983–2019) give it a 77.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 22.0%, so the Uno sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 79 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.7% in the 0-30k band and 27.9% in the 120-150k band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 24.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Uno model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 38 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Brakes |
| 1987 | 81 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 145 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 118 | 77.1% | 22.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 112 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 62 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 114 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Suspension |
| 1993 | 159 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1994 | 50 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Suspension |
| 1995 | 50 | 78.0% | 22.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 33 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 143 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 101 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.6% | 87 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 74 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 49 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 43 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.2% | 22 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 79 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 62 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 48 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 44 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 44 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 43 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 37 |
| 8 | Prescribed areas | 32 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.2% | 223 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 170 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.7% | 168 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.8% | 159 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.7% | 148 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.7% | 67 |
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 | 103 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 340 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 317 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 27.9% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 922 | 22.3% |
| Diesel | 84 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 245 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 202 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 173 | 18.5% |
| 2024 | 178 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 208 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a Fiat Uno
- Lighting & signalling (14.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% 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.
- Suspension (8.6% 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.
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 Uno?
77.5% of the 1,006 Fiat Uno MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.5% fail rate, across model years 1983–2019.
What does the Fiat Uno most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.2% of tests, then brakes (10.0%).
How much does mileage affect Uno MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.9% for 120-150k, a 17.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,006 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.