Fiat Idea
From 480 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. The top issue, 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, caused 47 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.
| 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 | 47 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 39 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 22 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 21 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 19 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 17 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 15 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 13 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 12 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 54.4% of Idea failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 19.8% 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 £183.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 62.4% while Diesel versions pass at 56.8%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Fiat Idea on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 112 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 112. At this rate, roughly 3.9 years until none remain. Now at 11.4% of its peak (3,829 in 2009 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 201 | 234 | +0 | -23 | -23 |
| 2025 Q2 | 221 | 237 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2025 Q1 | 234 | 241 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2024 Q4 | 266 | 245 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
| 2024 Q3 | 292 | 255 | +0 | -43 | -43 |
| 2024 Q2 | 331 | 259 | +0 | -33 | -33 |
| 2024 Q1 | 360 | 263 | +0 | -35 | -35 |
| 2023 Q4 | 399 | 259 | +0 | -29 | -29 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 63.3% | 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 |
| 2005 | 67.3% | 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 56% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all Ideas tested had between 65,853 and 105,292 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 84,653 median miles, the Idea has 0.046 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 Idea MOT pass rate?
The Fiat Idea has a 61% MOT pass rate based on 480 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Fiat Idea?
The most common MOT failure on the Fiat Idea is 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, which caused 47 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Fiat Ideas are on UK roads?
There are 201 Fiat Ideas currently licensed on UK roads, with 234 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Fiat Idea at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Fiat Idea is 84,653 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 65,853 and 105,292 miles.
Buying a used Idea?
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 61% pass rate and an average repair bill of £183 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 54.4% 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.