Fiat 124 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Fiat 124 car check
Is the Fiat 124 reliable? We analysed 21,976 real MOT tests across 3,263 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Fiat 124? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Fiat 124 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat 124.
Fiat 124 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Fiat 124. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Fiat 124 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Fiat 124 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Fiat 124 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Fiat 124 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Fiat 124 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Fiat 124 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Fiat 124 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Fiat 124 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Fiat 124 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat 124 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 98 | 89.8% | 8,505 | 14,897 | 24,574 |
| 2018 | 8,026 | 88.9% | 13,563 | 21,394 | 32,170 |
| 2017 | 6,039 | 89.3% | 13,566 | 21,847 | 33,090 |
| 2016 | 5,224 | 88.7% | 14,637 | 23,843 | 37,312 |
| 1998 | 82 | 78.0% | 19,493 | 25,774 | 57,862 |
| 1997 | 50 | 72.0% | 15,080 | 27,656 | 74,372 |
| 1994 | 95 | 73.7% | 35,097 | 57,183 | 96,510 |
| 1993 | 68 | 70.6% | 17,428 | 39,625 | 104,262 |
| 1992 | 110 | 71.8% | 33,108 | 69,198 | 86,695 |
| 1991 | 193 | 69.9% | 31,827 | 58,799 | 84,089 |
| 1990 | 202 | 66.8% | 25,208 | 44,616 | 79,741 |
| 1989 | 85 | 70.6% | 18,910 | 69,857 | 86,234 |
| 1984 | 109 | 68.8% | 56,989 | 81,816 | 95,696 |
| 1983 | 60 | 70.0% | 51,162 | 91,474 | 168,136 |
| 1982 | 51 | 80.4% | 47,455 | 70,334 | 108,807 |
| 1981 | 108 | 70.4% | 18,197 | 81,684 | 97,569 |
| 1980 | 73 | 75.3% | 30,414 | 45,572 | 67,463 |
| 1979 | 67 | 68.7% | 14,614 | 58,826 | 75,282 |
| 1978 | 68 | 69.1% | 29,013 | 41,250 | 71,977 |
| 1976 | 112 | 67.9% | 20,412 | 53,743 | 70,708 |
How Long Does a Fiat 124 Last?
Based on 3,263 Fiat 124 vehicles on UK roads.
Fiat 124 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Fiat 124 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat 124
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.8% MOT pass rate from 98 tests
66.0% MOT pass rate from 97 tests
The best year to buy a used Fiat 124 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.8% across 98 tests. The 1968 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Fiat 124 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 124 THIS CAR | 87.1% | 21,976 | 23,600 mi | 10 yrs |
| Fiat Punto | 68.7% | 6,712,102 | 61,468 mi | 32 yrs |
| Fiat 500 | 76.9% | 3,854,072 | 42,469 mi | 18 yrs |
| Fiat Ducato | 75% | 1,962,737 | 48,690 mi | 38 yrs |
| Peugeot 308 Active HDI | 87.6% | 9,118 | 83,961 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat 124 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Fiat 124 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Fiat 124Should you buy a used Fiat 124?
The Fiat 124 has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.1% across 21,976 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Fiat 124 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (168 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (106), and parking brake recording little or no effort (77). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Fiat 124 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Fiat 124 owner drives around 2,747 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Fiat 124 models stay on UK roads for around 10 years. If you're buying one that's already well within that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.