Fiat Seicento
From 2,471 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Seicentos fare better: 2003 models pass at 62% vs 64.4% for 2002.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 181 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 181 |
| 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 | 151 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 122 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 117 |
| 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. | 114 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 86 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 82 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 74 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 68 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 68 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 28.7% of Seicento failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 40.2% 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 £141.
Fiat Seicento on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 484 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 484. At this rate, roughly 7.5 years until none remain. Now at 8.3% of its peak (43,883 in 2004 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 912 | 2,715 | +0 | -69 | -69 |
| 2025 Q2 | 971 | 2,725 | +0 | -38 | -38 |
| 2025 Q1 | 986 | 2,748 | +0 | -141 | -141 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,043 | 2,832 | +0 | -236 | -236 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,124 | 2,987 | +0 | -130 | -130 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,192 | 3,049 | +0 | -78 | -78 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,282 | 3,037 | +0 | -102 | -102 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,372 | 3,049 | +0 | -50 | -50 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seicento Sporting | Gas | 287 | 34% |
| Seicento Sx | Petrol | 256 | 30% |
| Seicento Active | Petrol | 107 | 13% |
| Seicento S | Petrol | 87 | 10% |
| Seicento Active Sport | Petrol | 64 | 8% |
| Seicento Mia | Petrol | 52 | 6% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 62% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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. |
| 2002 | 64.4% | 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 aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 61.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2000 | 59.6% | 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 lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
2 earlier years
| 1999 | 67.6% | 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, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 1998 | 74.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Seicentos tested had between 39,032 and 71,038 miles on the clock.
At 55,515 median miles, the Seicento has 0.066 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 Seicento MOT pass rate?
The Fiat Seicento has a 63.5% MOT pass rate based on 2,471 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Fiat Seicento?
The most common MOT failure on the Fiat Seicento is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 181 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Fiat Seicentos are on UK roads?
There are 912 Fiat Seicentos currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,715 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Fiat Seicento at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Fiat Seicento is 55,515 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 39,032 and 71,038 miles.
Buying a used Seicento?
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 63.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £141 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 28.7% 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.