Fiat 124 reliability: MOT pass rate and common faults

1,304 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2018 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Fiat 124 cars first used in 2018 had an MOT pass rate above the average for their age.

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

84.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 82.8% to 86.7%.

Fiat 124, all years84.8%
Same-age average, all vehicles80.9%

In 2025, 84.8% of the 1,304 initial MOT tests on Fiat 124 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 80.9%. That is 3.9 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific Fiat 124

Its own MOT history, free.

Fiat 124 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2018age 7		1,30428,900	84.8%±2.1	+3.9 ptsall: 80.9%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Fiat 124 problems at the MOT

Share of the 198 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics43.4%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

What to check when viewing a Fiat 124

Based on the areas where Fiat 124 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 43.4% of failed Fiat 124 tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Fiat 124's MOT history

Fiat 124 questions

Is the Fiat 124 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 84.8% of initial MOT tests on Fiat 124 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 80.9%. That is 3.9 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Fiat 124 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure area is lights and electrics (in 43.4% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 7-year-old Fiat 124?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Fiat 124 cars first used in 2018, about 7 years old, had a median of 28,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Fiat 124's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Fiat 124

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Fiat models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 16 Fiat models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Fiat 124 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count