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Fiat Hobby Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Hobby car check

Is the Fiat Hobby reliable? We analysed 1,119 real MOT tests across 115 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,119 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.0%
Typical Mileage
25,555mi
Annual Mileage
2,285mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
26yrs

The Fiat Hobby is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Hobby.

Fiat Hobby Number Plates

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

Fiat Hobby MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

86.2%
2019
84.6%
2018
93.6%
2017
78%
2009
80.4%
2006
77.3%
2005
83.1%
2004
73.7%
2001
77.2%
2000

Fiat Hobby Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 16
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 10
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 9
Direction indicator incorrect colour 9
Horn not working 7

Fiat Hobby Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Fiat Hobby models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 9

Fiat Hobby Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,072 mi/yr
Typical
2,285 mi/yr
Average
2,972 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,973 mi/yr

Fiat Hobby MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 152 86.2% 9,162 13,290 22,454
2018 123 84.6% 13,114 19,934 29,816
2017 94 93.6% 7,558 13,772 22,644
2009 50 78.0% 16,070 20,910 27,111
2006 102 80.4% 28,388 39,085 58,916
2005 97 77.3% 20,486 31,678 45,486
2004 124 83.1% 16,034 25,051 44,457
2001 95 73.7% 15,389 39,729 56,574
2000 57 77.2% 21,815 43,722 116,919

How Long Does a Fiat Hobby Last?

Based on 115 Fiat Hobby vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.1 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
26 years

Fiat Hobby Mileage Distribution

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

Median
25,555 mi
75th Percentile
47,379 mi
95th Percentile
99,666 mi
Max Recorded
189,545 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Hobby

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

Best year
2017

93.6% MOT pass rate from 94 tests

Year to avoid
2001

73.7% MOT pass rate from 95 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Hobby is 2017, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.6% across 94 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Hobby Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Hobby THIS CAR 82.0% 1,119 25,555 mi 26 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
Yamaha Not Stated 92.5% 931 25,869 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Hobby?

The Fiat Hobby has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.0% across 1,119 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 Hobby are headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside (16 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (10), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (9). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Fiat Hobby with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Fiat Hobby owner drives around 2,285 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 Hobby models stay on UK roads for around 26 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 Hobby — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Hobby reliable?
Based on 1,119 MOT tests, the Fiat Hobby has a 82.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Hobby?
The most common MOT failures are headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Hobby do per year?
The typical Fiat Hobby does around 2,285 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Hobby last?
Most Fiat Hobby models stay on UK roads for around 26 years based on our analysis of 115 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Hobby?
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 Hobby?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Hobby is 2017 with a 93.6% pass rate across 94 tests.