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Fiat Brava 1.4 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Brava 1.4 car check

Is the Fiat Brava 1.4 reliable? We analysed 843 real MOT tests across 161 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 843 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
60.7%
Typical Mileage
75,380mi
Annual Mileage
5,726mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Fiat Brava 1.4 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and direction indicator incorrect colour. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Brava 1.4.

Fiat Brava 1.4 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Fiat Brava 1.4. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Fiat Brava 1.4 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Fiat Brava 1.4 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

62.6%
1998
61.4%
1997
57.4%
1996

Fiat Brava 1.4 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Fiat Brava 1.4 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 167
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 91
Direction indicator incorrect colour 57
Registration plate lamp not working 56
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 55
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 54
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 52
Stop lamp not working 48
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 34
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 32

Fiat Brava 1.4 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Fiat Brava 1.4 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,905 mi/yr
Typical
5,726 mi/yr
Average
6,596 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,701 mi/yr

Fiat Brava 1.4 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat Brava 1.4 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 281 62.6% 60,544 72,961 83,945
1997 254 61.4% 64,163 74,586 87,979
1996 270 57.4% 66,401 77,749 89,962

How Long Does a Fiat Brava 1.4 Last?

Based on 161 Fiat Brava 1.4 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.6 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Fiat Brava 1.4 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Fiat Brava 1.4 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
75,380 mi
75th Percentile
87,519 mi
95th Percentile
107,965 mi
Max Recorded
808,005 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Brava 1.4

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

Best year
1998

62.6% MOT pass rate from 281 tests

Year to avoid
1996

57.4% MOT pass rate from 270 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 62.6% across 281 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Brava 1.4 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Brava 1.4 THIS CAR 60.7% 843 75,380 mi 30 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
Volkswagen Tiguan SE TDI Bmt 94.4% 1,261 64,450 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Brava 1.4 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4?

The Fiat Brava 1.4 has an overall MOT pass rate of 60.7% across 843 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Brava 1.4 are brake pipe excessively corroded (167 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (91), and direction indicator incorrect colour (57). 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 Brava 1.4 owner drives around 5,726 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 Brava 1.4 models stay on UK roads for around 30 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 Brava 1.4 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Brava 1.4 reliable?
Based on 843 MOT tests, the Fiat Brava 1.4 has a 60.7% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Brava 1.4?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and direction indicator incorrect colour. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Brava 1.4 do per year?
The typical Fiat Brava 1.4 does around 5,726 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Brava 1.4 last?
Most Fiat Brava 1.4 models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 161 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Brava 1.4?
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 Brava 1.4?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 is 1998 with a 62.6% pass rate across 281 tests.