Fiat Barchetta
From 824 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 33 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 33 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 31 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 25 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 24 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 18 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 16 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 16 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 16 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 15 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 14 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 34.1% of Barchetta failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 32.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £148.
Fiat Barchetta on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 22 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 2 newly registered, a net loss of 20. At this rate, roughly 50.1 years until none remain. Now at 54.5% of its peak (1,472 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 293 | 509 | +0 | -0 | +6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 300 | 496 | +0 | -1 | -1 |
| 2025 Q1 | 236 | 561 | +1 | -6 | -5 |
| 2024 Q4 | 234 | 568 | +1 | -15 | -14 |
| 2024 Q3 | 313 | 503 | +0 | -0 | +4 |
| 2024 Q2 | 330 | 482 | +0 | -0 | +28 |
| 2024 Q1 | 269 | 515 | +1 | -33 | -32 |
| 2023 Q4 | 260 | 556 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barchetta | Diesel | 233 | 80% |
| Barchetta 16V | Petrol | 60 | 20% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 68.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1999 | 78.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 1998 | 73.8% | parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1997 | 77.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Barchettas tested had between 50,824 and 78,391 miles on the clock.
At 60,737 median miles, the Barchetta has 0.041 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Fiat models
| Fiat 500 | 75% |
| Fiat Ducato | 75.4% |
| Fiat Panda | 71.7% |
| Fiat Punto | 65.7% |
| Fiat Doblo | 71.6% |
Common questions
What is the Fiat Barchetta MOT pass rate?
The Fiat Barchetta has a 74.9% MOT pass rate based on 824 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Fiat Barchetta?
The most common MOT failure on the Fiat Barchetta is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 33 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Fiat Barchettas are on UK roads?
There are 293 Fiat Barchettas currently licensed on UK roads, with 509 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Fiat Barchetta at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Fiat Barchetta is 60,737 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 50,824 and 78,391 miles.
Buying a used Barchetta?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 74.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £148 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 34.1% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.