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

Free Fiat Brava 1.4 SX car check

Is the Fiat Brava 1.4 SX reliable? We analysed 5,374 real MOT tests across 1,200 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,374 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
62.2%
Typical Mileage
77,624mi
Annual Mileage
5,937mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Fiat Brava 1.4 SX 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 SX.

Fiat Brava 1.4 SX Number Plates

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

Fiat Brava 1.4 SX MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

62.9%
1998
61.6%
1997
61.7%
1996

Fiat Brava 1.4 SX Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 852
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 504
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 329
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 319
Registration plate lamp not working 296
Direction indicator incorrect colour 269
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 260
Stop lamp not working 239
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 216
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 163

Fiat Brava 1.4 SX Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,961 mi/yr
Typical
5,937 mi/yr
Average
6,638 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,447 mi/yr

Fiat Brava 1.4 SX MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 1,718 62.9% 61,040 74,500 87,992
1997 1,800 61.6% 64,181 77,134 90,632
1996 1,772 61.7% 68,972 81,098 94,976

How Long Does a Fiat Brava 1.4 SX Last?

Based on 1,200 Fiat Brava 1.4 SX vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.2 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Fiat Brava 1.4 SX Mileage Distribution

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

Median
77,624 mi
75th Percentile
91,202 mi
95th Percentile
114,642 mi
Max Recorded
987,165 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Brava 1.4 SX

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

Best year
1998

62.9% MOT pass rate from 1,718 tests

Year to avoid
1997

61.6% MOT pass rate from 1,800 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 SX is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 62.9% across 1,718 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Brava 1.4 SX 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 SX THIS CAR 62.2% 5,374 77,624 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
Kia Proceed Gt-line S Isg S-a 85.6% 2,505 30,595 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 SX?

The Fiat Brava 1.4 SX has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.2% across 5,374 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Brava 1.4 SX are brake pipe excessively corroded (852 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (504), and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (329). 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 SX owner drives around 5,937 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 SX 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 SX — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Brava 1.4 SX reliable?
Based on 5,374 MOT tests, the Fiat Brava 1.4 SX has a 62.2% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Brava 1.4 SX?
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 SX do per year?
The typical Fiat Brava 1.4 SX does around 5,937 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Brava 1.4 SX last?
Most Fiat Brava 1.4 SX models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 1,200 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Brava 1.4 SX?
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 SX?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.4 SX is 1998 with a 62.9% pass rate across 1,718 tests.