CarVerify

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx car check

Is the Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx reliable? We analysed 846 real MOT tests across 196 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 846 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
61.9%
Typical Mileage
82,397mi
Annual Mileage
6,371mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx 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 1.6 Elx.

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

62.7%
1998
64.8%
1997
59.2%
1996

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 128
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 77
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 46
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 43
Registration plate lamp not working 39
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 36
Direction indicator incorrect colour 36
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 35
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 28
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 28

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,219 mi/yr
Typical
6,371 mi/yr
Average
7,034 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,456 mi/yr

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 134 62.7% 57,304 77,786 88,488
1997 310 64.8% 68,758 83,926 103,758
1996 358 59.2% 70,314 84,032 98,061

How Long Does a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx Last?

Based on 196 Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.4 years
Median
10.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
82,397 mi
75th Percentile
98,704 mi
95th Percentile
120,724 mi
Max Recorded
652,101 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx

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

Best year
1997

64.8% MOT pass rate from 310 tests

Year to avoid
1996

59.2% MOT pass rate from 358 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 64.8% across 310 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.2% — 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 1.6 Elx Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx THIS CAR 61.9% 846 82,397 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
Ds DS7 C-back Pfmnc Ln+ Bhdi Ss A 89% 562 33,012 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx you like?

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

Check a specific Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx

Should you buy a used Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx?

The Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx has an overall MOT pass rate of 61.9% across 846 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx are brake pipe excessively corroded (128 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (77), and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (46). 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 1.6 Elx owner drives around 6,371 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 1.6 Elx 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 1.6 Elx — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx reliable?
Based on 846 MOT tests, the Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx has a 61.9% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx?
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 1.6 Elx do per year?
The typical Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx does around 6,371 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx last?
Most Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 196 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx?
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 1.6 Elx?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 1.6 Elx is 1997 with a 64.8% pass rate across 310 tests.