2018 Fiat 124 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,072 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Fiat 124, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 92.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (89.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.1% in the 60-90k group versus 6.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 275 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.0% | 213 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 163 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 161 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 70 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 197 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 157 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 118 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 96 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 77 |
| 6 | Washers | 74 |
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 | 16.5% | 1,167 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 1,149 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 244 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 180 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 149 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.9% | 134 |
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 | 5,195 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,728 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 136 | 19.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,420 | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 1,414 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 1,426 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 1,398 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 1,414 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 124
Before buying a 2018 Fiat 124, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.0% 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 (2.3% 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 124s pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 7,072 2018 Fiat 124 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat 124?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.0%).
Does the 2018 124 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 19.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,072 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.