Fiat 124 MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 2,692 class-4 normal initial MOT tests in 2024, 84.9% passed without an initial fail or PRS repair — above the 71.2% UK average.
Checking a Fiat 124?
Model-level statistics cannot reveal the condition or provenance of one car.
Check its registration free for the actual MOT, tax and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Pass rate by vehicle age
| Age | Tests | Initial pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 years | 2,673 | 84.9% |
Common initial failure categories
These are the items that most often caused a Fiat 124 to fail its first test, with what each one usually means for a buyer.
- Mechanical Brake Components — 3.1% of tests. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Wipers — 2.4% of tests. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
- Condition — 1.9% of tests. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Position Lamps — 1.8% of tests. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Headlamp Aim — 1.4% of tests. Headlights pointing too high or low. Cheap to adjust, and common on every make.
- Springs — 1.3% of tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
What this does and does not tell you
A pass rate describes how a population of cars behaved on test day. It says nothing about how one car was driven, serviced or repaired, and an MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox at all.
Use it to know what to look for: if tyres and brakes dominate the list, price those in; if corrosion or suspension appears, get underneath the car. Then check the individual vehicle — its MOT history shows whether these same items have been advised year after year, and its mileage record shows whether the reading is consistent.
How many Fiat 124 are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 2,831 licensed and 297 SORN vehicles in the Fiat 124 generic-model group.
Licensed and SORN trend for the Fiat 124
Before you buy
- Mechanical Brake Components — 3.1% of tests in 2024. Worn discs, pads or callipers. Routine wear, but it should be priced into the deal.
- Wipers — 2.4% of tests in 2024. Worn wiper blades. Minutes to fix, and a fair hint that servicing was skipped.
- Condition — 1.9% of tests in 2024. Corrosion, damage or wear on a tested component. Worth seeing in person, as the cost ranges from trivial to structural.
- Position Lamps — 1.8% of tests in 2024. A side or tail light out. Usually a bulb.
- Check the actual 124 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Other Fiat models
- Fiat 500 — 66.8% pass
- Fiat Panda — 64% pass
- Fiat Ducato — 73.3% pass
- Fiat Punto — 55.3% pass
- Fiat Doblo — 63.5% pass
- Fiat 500x — 75.1% pass
See every Fiat model MOT pass rate
Common questions
What is the Fiat 124 MOT pass rate?
84.9% of 2,692 class-4 initial MOT tests on the Fiat 124 passed first time in 2024 — above the 71.2% UK average.
Why does the 124 fail its MOT?
The most common initial failure categories are mechanical brake components (3.1% of tests), wipers (2.4% of tests), condition (1.9% of tests), position lamps (1.8% of tests).
How many Fiat 124 are left in the UK?
2,831 were licensed and 297 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
Does this tell me whether one particular 124 is a good buy?
No. These are population statistics. Enter that car's registration for its own MOT, tax and mileage record, then check outstanding finance, write-off and stolen markers before buying.
Methodology and limitations
MOT outcomes describe testable items at the time of inspection. They are not a measure of overall mechanical reliability.
Scope: Class 4 normal initial MOT tests completed in 2024. Models require at least 1,000 qualifying tests. Duplicate source rows are removed using official DVSA test IDs.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published 2025-05-23 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check the actual car
Enter the registration for that car's own free MOT, tax and mileage record. Before money changes hands, the £9.99 full history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off and stolen checks.