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Fiat Brava 1.4 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Brava 1.4 S car check

Is the Fiat Brava 1.4 S reliable? We analysed 6,510 real MOT tests across 1,424 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,510 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
61.3%
Typical Mileage
76,320mi
Annual Mileage
5,996mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Fiat Brava 1.4 S 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 shock absorber has a serious fluid leak. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Brava 1.4 S.

Fiat Brava 1.4 S Number Plates

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

Fiat Brava 1.4 S MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

63.5%
1999
62.5%
1998
60.6%
1997
60.5%
1996
64.2%
1995

Fiat Brava 1.4 S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,210
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 613
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 407
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 363
Registration plate lamp not working 328
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 328
Stop lamp not working 325
Direction indicator incorrect colour 318
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 297
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 199

Fiat Brava 1.4 S Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,042 mi/yr
Typical
5,996 mi/yr
Average
6,626 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,462 mi/yr

Fiat Brava 1.4 S MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 126 63.5% 53,321 64,625 80,176
1998 2,120 62.5% 58,545 71,856 85,027
1997 1,879 60.6% 61,753 74,445 87,985
1996 2,328 60.5% 68,759 82,213 93,950
1995 53 64.2% 74,529 86,617 101,054

How Long Does a Fiat Brava 1.4 S Last?

Based on 1,424 Fiat Brava 1.4 S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.2 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Fiat Brava 1.4 S Mileage Distribution

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

Median
76,320 mi
75th Percentile
89,406 mi
95th Percentile
110,741 mi
Max Recorded
988,907 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Brava 1.4 S

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

Best year
1995

64.2% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

Year to avoid
1996

60.5% MOT pass rate from 2,328 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 S is 1995, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 64.2% across 53 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.5% — 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 S 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 S THIS CAR 61.3% 6,510 76,320 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
Daimler Sovereign 77.4% 3,476 57,247 mi 59 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 S?

The Fiat Brava 1.4 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 61.3% across 6,510 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Brava 1.4 S are brake pipe excessively corroded (1,210 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (613), and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (407). 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 S owner drives around 5,996 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 S 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 S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Brava 1.4 S reliable?
Based on 6,510 MOT tests, the Fiat Brava 1.4 S has a 61.3% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Brava 1.4 S?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Brava 1.4 S do per year?
The typical Fiat Brava 1.4 S does around 5,996 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Brava 1.4 S last?
Most Fiat Brava 1.4 S models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 1,424 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Brava 1.4 S?
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 S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 S is 1995 with a 64.2% pass rate across 53 tests.