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Fiat Marea Elx Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Marea Elx car check

Is the Fiat Marea Elx reliable? We analysed 1,417 real MOT tests across 324 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,417 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
60.2%
Typical Mileage
80,518mi
Annual Mileage
6,762mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Fiat Marea Elx 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 Elx.

Fiat Marea Elx Number Plates

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

Fiat Marea Elx MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

65.7%
1999
59.8%
1998
60.3%
1997

Fiat Marea Elx Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 198
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 161
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 115
Direction indicator incorrect colour 100
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 86
Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush 78
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 75
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 66
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 66
brake disc excessively pitted 52

Fiat Marea Elx Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,305 mi/yr
Typical
6,762 mi/yr
Average
7,716 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,869 mi/yr

Fiat Marea Elx MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 70 65.7% 63,291 74,317 92,944
1998 726 59.8% 67,626 82,272 102,198
1997 599 60.3% 67,183 80,385 98,974

How Long Does a Fiat Marea Elx Last?

Based on 324 Fiat Marea Elx vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.4 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Fiat Marea Elx Mileage Distribution

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

Median
80,518 mi
75th Percentile
99,392 mi
95th Percentile
130,483 mi
Max Recorded
976,654 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Marea Elx

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

Best year
1999

65.7% MOT pass rate from 70 tests

Year to avoid
1998

59.8% MOT pass rate from 726 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Marea Elx is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 65.7% across 70 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.8% — 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 Elx Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Marea Elx THIS CAR 60.2% 1,417 80,518 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
Cupra Leon First Edition PHEV S-a 84.2% 544 35,668 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Marea Elx?

The Fiat Marea Elx has an overall MOT pass rate of 60.2% across 1,417 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Marea Elx are brake pipe excessively corroded (198 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (161), and seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (115). 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 Elx owner drives around 6,762 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 Elx 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 Elx — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Marea Elx reliable?
Based on 1,417 MOT tests, the Fiat Marea Elx has a 60.2% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Marea Elx?
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 Elx do per year?
The typical Fiat Marea Elx does around 6,762 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Marea Elx last?
Most Fiat Marea Elx models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 324 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Marea Elx?
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 Elx?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Marea Elx is 1999 with a 65.7% pass rate across 70 tests.