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

Free Fiat Brava 80 SX car check

Is the Fiat Brava 80 SX reliable? We analysed 7,650 real MOT tests across 1,534 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,650 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
63.0%
Typical Mileage
65,486mi
Annual Mileage
7,658mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Fiat Brava 80 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 80 SX.

Fiat Brava 80 SX Number Plates

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

Fiat Brava 80 SX MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

66.2%
2001
62.2%
2000
62%
1999

Fiat Brava 80 SX Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,357
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 837
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 538
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 429
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 366
Registration plate lamp not working 319
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 284
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 275
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 268
Stop lamp not working 248

Fiat Brava 80 SX Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,217 mi/yr
Typical
7,658 mi/yr
Average
8,442 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,613 mi/yr

Fiat Brava 80 SX MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 1,702 66.2% 45,986 59,255 73,546
2000 2,925 62.2% 52,919 65,815 79,122
1999 3,019 62.0% 56,310 69,072 83,061

How Long Does a Fiat Brava 80 SX Last?

Based on 1,534 Fiat Brava 80 SX vehicles on UK roads.

Average
7.7 years
Median
8.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Fiat Brava 80 SX Mileage Distribution

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

Median
65,486 mi
75th Percentile
79,835 mi
95th Percentile
103,285 mi
Max Recorded
985,739 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Brava 80 SX

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

Best year
2001

66.2% MOT pass rate from 1,702 tests

Year to avoid
1999

62.0% MOT pass rate from 3,019 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 80 SX is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 66.2% across 1,702 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.0% — 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 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 80 SX THIS CAR 63.0% 7,650 65,486 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
Suzuki SX4 Glx 77.3% 3,949 87,272 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Brava 80 SX?

The Fiat Brava 80 SX has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.0% across 7,650 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Brava 80 SX are brake pipe excessively corroded (1,357 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (837), and shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (538). 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 SX owner drives around 7,658 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 SX 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 SX — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Brava 80 SX reliable?
Based on 7,650 MOT tests, the Fiat Brava 80 SX has a 63.0% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Brava 80 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 80 SX do per year?
The typical Fiat Brava 80 SX does around 7,658 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Brava 80 SX last?
Most Fiat Brava 80 SX models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 1,534 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Brava 80 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 80 SX?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Brava 80 SX is 2001 with a 66.2% pass rate across 1,702 tests.