CarVerify

Fiat Brava 80 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Brava 80 S car check

Is the Fiat Brava 80 S reliable? We analysed 1,453 real MOT tests across 261 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Fiat Brava 80 S? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,453 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
63.0%
Typical Mileage
68,446mi
Annual Mileage
7,505mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Fiat Brava 80 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 80 S.

Fiat Brava 80 S Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Fiat Brava 80 S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Fiat Brava 80 S MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Fiat Brava 80 S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

64.4%
2001
63.8%
2000
61.6%
1999

Fiat Brava 80 S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Fiat Brava 80 S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brake pipe excessively corroded 251
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 145
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 97
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 80
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 72
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 67
Registration plate lamp not working 63
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 58
Stop lamp not working 48
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 46

Fiat Brava 80 S Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Fiat Brava 80 S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,991 mi/yr
Typical
7,505 mi/yr
Average
8,522 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,385 mi/yr

Fiat Brava 80 S MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat Brava 80 S year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 331 64.4% 48,857 63,527 75,903
2000 525 63.8% 54,634 67,815 82,644
1999 597 61.6% 57,844 71,745 85,143

How Long Does a Fiat Brava 80 S Last?

Based on 261 Fiat Brava 80 S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.1 years
Median
8.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Fiat Brava 80 S Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Fiat Brava 80 S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
68,446 mi
75th Percentile
82,215 mi
95th Percentile
102,105 mi
Max Recorded
882,175 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Brava 80 S

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

Best year
2001

64.4% MOT pass rate from 331 tests

Year to avoid
1999

61.6% MOT pass rate from 597 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 80 S is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 64.4% across 331 tests. The 1999 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 80 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 80 S THIS CAR 63.0% 1,453 68,446 mi 27 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 Sportage 3 CRDI Isg MHEV S-a 85.8% 2,647 31,416 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Brava 80 S trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Fiat Brava 80 S 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 80 S

Should you buy a used Fiat Brava 80 S?

The Fiat Brava 80 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.0% across 1,453 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Brava 80 S are brake pipe excessively corroded (251 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (145), and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (97). 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 80 S owner drives around 7,505 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 80 S models stay on UK roads for around 27 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 80 S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Brava 80 S reliable?
Based on 1,453 MOT tests, the Fiat Brava 80 S has a 63.0% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Brava 80 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 80 S do per year?
The typical Fiat Brava 80 S does around 7,505 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Brava 80 S last?
Most Fiat Brava 80 S models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 261 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Brava 80 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 80 S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 80 S is 2001 with a 64.4% pass rate across 331 tests.