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Fiat Dino Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Dino car check

Is the Fiat Dino reliable? We analysed 705 real MOT tests across 126 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 705 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.4%
Typical Mileage
58,281mi
Annual Mileage
497mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
54yrs

The Fiat Dino is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and horn not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Dino.

Fiat Dino Number Plates

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

Fiat Dino MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

75%
1990
79.7%
1989
74.5%
1972

Fiat Dino Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 21
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 18
Horn not working 17
Direction indicator incorrect colour 17
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 14
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 13
Headlamp not working on main beam 13
Registration plate lamp not working 11
Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on 10
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 9

Fiat Dino Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
158 mi/yr
Typical
497 mi/yr
Average
833 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,168 mi/yr

Fiat Dino MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1990 60 75.0% 33,688 40,308 73,290
1989 59 79.7% 43,111 61,450 83,466
1972 55 74.5% 73,038 77,426 90,482

How Long Does a Fiat Dino Last?

Based on 126 Fiat Dino vehicles on UK roads.

Average
30.6 years
Median
32.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
54 years

Fiat Dino Mileage Distribution

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

Median
58,281 mi
75th Percentile
78,445 mi
95th Percentile
92,848 mi
Max Recorded
110,600 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Dino

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

Best year
1989

79.7% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

Year to avoid
1972

74.5% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Dino is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.7% across 59 tests. The 1972 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Dino Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Dino THIS CAR 81.4% 705 58,281 mi 54 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
Audi A4 SE TDI 140 75% 1,179 163,088 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Dino outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Fiat Dino?

The Fiat Dino has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.4% across 705 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Fiat Dino are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (21 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (18), and horn not working (17). 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 Dino owner drives around 497 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 Dino models stay on UK roads for around 54 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 Dino — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Dino reliable?
Based on 705 MOT tests, the Fiat Dino has a 81.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Dino?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and horn not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Dino do per year?
The typical Fiat Dino does around 497 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Dino last?
Most Fiat Dino models stay on UK roads for around 54 years based on our analysis of 126 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Dino?
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 Dino?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Dino is 1989 with a 79.7% pass rate across 59 tests.