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Fiat Barchetta Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Barchetta car check

Is the Fiat Barchetta reliable? We analysed 21,950 real MOT tests across 1,985 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 21,950 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.7%
Typical Mileage
72,286mi
Annual Mileage
1,804mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Fiat Barchetta is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Barchetta.

Fiat Barchetta Number Plates

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

Fiat Barchetta MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

79.2%
2005
77.6%
2004
79%
2003
74.7%
2002
73.9%
2001
72.1%
2000
72.1%
1999
70.1%
1998
69.3%
1997
68.7%
1996
69.2%
1995

Fiat Barchetta Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,301
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 588
parking brake recording little or no effort 509
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 482
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 438
Brake pipe excessively corroded 408
wheel bearing rough when rotated 334
brake disc excessively pitted 316
Stop lamp not working 295
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 294

Fiat Barchetta Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
581 mi/yr
Typical
1,804 mi/yr
Average
3,306 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,375 mi/yr

Fiat Barchetta MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 1,204 79.2% 22,174 35,101 51,410
2004 1,138 77.6% 21,013 35,712 54,666
2003 614 79.0% 26,809 43,293 58,572
2002 430 74.7% 26,189 48,588 115,825
2001 1,042 73.9% 46,054 72,851 104,057
2000 2,404 72.1% 49,444 78,551 111,584
1999 2,958 72.1% 48,570 75,289 107,144
1998 4,343 70.1% 53,262 74,431 105,776
1997 3,864 69.3% 56,850 81,074 109,494
1996 2,536 68.7% 54,763 86,952 117,011
1995 1,270 69.2% 78,529 108,909 139,728

How Long Does a Fiat Barchetta Last?

Based on 1,985 Fiat Barchetta vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.2 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Fiat Barchetta Mileage Distribution

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

Median
72,286 mi
75th Percentile
105,969 mi
95th Percentile
165,550 mi
Max Recorded
990,754 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Barchetta

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

Best year
2005

79.2% MOT pass rate from 1,204 tests

Year to avoid
1996

68.7% MOT pass rate from 2,536 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Barchetta is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.2% across 1,204 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Barchetta Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Barchetta THIS CAR 71.7% 21,950 72,286 mi 31 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
Seat Leon FR Black Edition TSI Evo 86.3% 10,184 34,928 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Barchetta sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Fiat Barchetta?

The Fiat Barchetta has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.7% across 21,950 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Fiat Barchetta are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (1,301 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (588), and parking brake recording little or no effort (509). 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 Barchetta owner drives around 1,804 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 Barchetta models stay on UK roads for around 31 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 Barchetta — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Barchetta reliable?
Based on 21,950 MOT tests, the Fiat Barchetta has a 71.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Barchetta?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and parking brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Barchetta do per year?
The typical Fiat Barchetta does around 1,804 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Barchetta last?
Most Fiat Barchetta models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 1,985 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Barchetta?
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 Barchetta?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Barchetta is 2005 with a 79.2% pass rate across 1,204 tests.