CarVerify

Fiat Marea Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Marea car check

Is the Fiat Marea reliable? We analysed 95,131 real MOT tests across 14,968 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Fiat Marea? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 95,131 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
64.5%
Typical Mileage
73,832mi
Annual Mileage
6,008mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Fiat Marea 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 seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Marea.

Fiat Marea Number Plates

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

Fiat Marea MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

86.4%
2006
80.6%
2005
80.8%
2004
67.1%
2003
68.2%
2002
67.2%
2001
65.1%
2000
63.2%
1999
62.9%
1998
61.6%
1997
61.5%
1996

Fiat Marea Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 8,909
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 7,706
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 5,249
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 4,195
Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush 3,373
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 3,231
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,949
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 2,914
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 2,542
Direction indicator incorrect colour 2,142

Fiat Marea Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,586 mi/yr
Typical
6,008 mi/yr
Average
6,961 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,078 mi/yr

Fiat Marea MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2006 59 86.4% 18,003 28,781 58,985
2005 129 80.6% 22,747 30,832 47,049
2004 177 80.8% 25,118 33,579 42,854
2003 70 67.1% 44,108 62,699 74,264
2002 3,793 68.2% 44,945 64,032 88,502
2001 20,007 67.2% 49,578 66,970 88,184
2000 24,264 65.1% 54,821 70,302 88,891
1999 15,307 63.2% 60,098 76,308 96,508
1998 17,624 62.9% 62,770 80,955 101,193
1997 13,617 61.6% 64,808 81,356 99,560
1996 52 61.5% 70,116 87,319 95,532

How Long Does a Fiat Marea Last?

Based on 14,968 Fiat Marea vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.7 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Fiat Marea Mileage Distribution

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

Median
73,832 mi
75th Percentile
94,074 mi
95th Percentile
132,158 mi
Max Recorded
999,163 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Marea

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

Best year
2006

86.4% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

Year to avoid
1996

61.5% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Marea is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.4% across 59 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Marea Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Marea THIS CAR 64.5% 95,131 73,832 mi 29 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
Mitsubishi Challenger 68.6% 31,992 109,262 mi 30 yrs

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

Found a Fiat Marea 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 Marea

Should you buy a used Fiat Marea?

The Fiat Marea has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.5% across 95,131 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Marea are brake pipe excessively corroded (8,909 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (7,706), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5,249). 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 Marea owner drives around 6,008 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 Marea models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Marea — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Marea reliable?
Based on 95,131 MOT tests, the Fiat Marea has a 64.5% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Marea?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Marea do per year?
The typical Fiat Marea does around 6,008 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Marea last?
Most Fiat Marea models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 14,968 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Marea?
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 Marea?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Marea is 2006 with a 86.4% pass rate across 59 tests.