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Fiat Seicento S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Seicento S car check

Is the Fiat Seicento S reliable? We analysed 1,731 real MOT tests across 355 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,731 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
64.8%
Typical Mileage
52,887mi
Annual Mileage
6,093mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Fiat Seicento S is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Seicento S.

Fiat Seicento S Number Plates

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

Fiat Seicento S MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

71.6%
2002
64.5%
2001
62.9%
2000
62.8%
1999
66.2%
1998

Fiat Seicento S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 218
Brake pipe excessively corroded 160
parking brake recording little or no effort 156
Headlamp aim too low 85
brake binding 79
brake recording little or no effort 77
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 76
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 70
position lamp(s) not working 68
Registration plate lamp not working 62

Fiat Seicento S Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,457 mi/yr
Typical
6,093 mi/yr
Average
6,535 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,385 mi/yr

Fiat Seicento S MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2002 116 71.6% 23,025 31,968 45,524
2001 324 64.5% 31,794 43,488 55,704
2000 194 62.9% 41,774 54,682 68,654
1999 626 62.8% 44,308 57,950 69,488
1998 455 66.2% 44,320 57,380 70,398

How Long Does a Fiat Seicento S Last?

Based on 355 Fiat Seicento S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
8.2 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Fiat Seicento S Mileage Distribution

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

Median
52,887 mi
75th Percentile
67,464 mi
95th Percentile
87,584 mi
Max Recorded
791,733 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Seicento S

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

Best year
2002

71.6% MOT pass rate from 116 tests

Year to avoid
1999

62.8% MOT pass rate from 626 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Seicento S is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 71.6% across 116 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Seicento S Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Seicento S THIS CAR 64.8% 1,731 52,887 mi 28 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
Ford Transit Connect 250LMITED Eblu 82.9% 2,057 45,773 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Seicento S?

The Fiat Seicento S has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.8% across 1,731 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Seicento S are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (218 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (160), and parking brake recording little or no effort (156). 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 Seicento S owner drives around 6,093 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 Seicento S models stay on UK roads for around 28 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 Seicento S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Seicento S reliable?
Based on 1,731 MOT tests, the Fiat Seicento S has a 64.8% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Seicento S?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded, and parking brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Seicento S do per year?
The typical Fiat Seicento S does around 6,093 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Seicento S last?
Most Fiat Seicento S models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 355 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Seicento S?
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 Seicento S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Seicento S is 2002 with a 71.6% pass rate across 116 tests.