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Fiat 600 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat 600 car check

Is the Fiat 600 reliable? We analysed 663 real MOT tests across 128 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 663 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.0%
Typical Mileage
57,657mi
Annual Mileage
170mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
60yrs

The Fiat 600 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat 600.

Fiat 600 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Fiat 600. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Fiat 600 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Fiat 600 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.4%
2008
68.6%
1968
83.6%
1967
80.3%
1966

Fiat 600 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Fiat 600 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 26
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 21
Stop lamp not working 19
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 18
Headlamp not working on main beam 17
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 16
Headlamp aim too high 16
position lamp(s) not working 14
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 13
Direction indicator incorrect colour 12

Fiat 600 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Fiat 600 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
44 mi/yr
Typical
170 mi/yr
Average
708 mi/yr
Heavy usage
520 mi/yr

Fiat 600 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat 600 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 55 76.4% 27,666 46,641 52,565
1968 51 68.6% 49,708 52,434 62,365
1967 67 83.6% 4,981 58,458 74,170
1966 61 80.3% 30,999 61,658 86,760

How Long Does a Fiat 600 Last?

Based on 128 Fiat 600 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
32.2 years
Median
44.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
60 years

Fiat 600 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Fiat 600 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
57,657 mi
75th Percentile
76,178 mi
95th Percentile
96,604 mi
Max Recorded
202,752 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat 600

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1967

83.6% MOT pass rate from 67 tests

Year to avoid
1968

68.6% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat 600 is 1967, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.6% across 67 tests. The 1968 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat 600 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat 600 THIS CAR 79.0% 663 57,657 mi 60 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
Land Rover Defender 90 County TD5 79.2% 1,012 125,202 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat 600 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Fiat 600?

The Fiat 600 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.0% across 663 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 600 are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (26 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (21), and stop lamp not working (19). 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.

A typical Fiat 600 owner drives around 170 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 600 models stay on UK roads for around 60 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching 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.

Fiat 600 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat 600 reliable?
Based on 663 MOT tests, the Fiat 600 has a 79.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Fiat 600?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat 600 do per year?
The typical Fiat 600 does around 170 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat 600 last?
Most Fiat 600 models stay on UK roads for around 60 years based on our analysis of 128 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat 600?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Fiat 600?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat 600 is 1967 with a 83.6% pass rate across 67 tests.