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Fiat Stilo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Stilo car check

Is the Fiat Stilo reliable? We analysed 566,057 real MOT tests across 43,678 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 566,057 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.4%
Typical Mileage
62,169mi
Annual Mileage
6,821mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Fiat Stilo is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and headlamp aim too low. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Stilo.

Fiat Stilo Number Plates

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

Fiat Stilo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

69%
2007
68%
2006
67.1%
2005
67.1%
2004
66.1%
2003
65.6%
2002
64.4%
2001
65.6%
2000

Fiat Stilo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 47,634
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 19,816
Headlamp aim too low 19,692
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 18,357
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 17,651
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 15,284
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 14,639
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 13,783
Stop lamp not working 13,095
coil spring incomplete 12,525

Fiat Stilo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,321 mi/yr
Typical
6,821 mi/yr
Average
7,880 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,036 mi/yr

Fiat Stilo MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 6,451 69.0% 39,868 61,356 85,680
2006 28,795 68.0% 42,526 64,722 89,982
2005 42,550 67.1% 42,644 63,040 87,650
2004 148,969 67.1% 40,685 60,672 84,174
2003 158,655 66.1% 41,918 61,521 84,491
2002 179,162 65.6% 45,557 63,317 83,880
2001 1,334 64.4% 45,556 63,310 84,612
2000 61 65.6% 39,558 52,529 75,071

How Long Does a Fiat Stilo Last?

Based on 43,678 Fiat Stilo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.7 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Fiat Stilo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
62,169 mi
75th Percentile
84,675 mi
95th Percentile
124,686 mi
Max Recorded
999,873 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Stilo

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

Best year
2007

69.0% MOT pass rate from 6,451 tests

Year to avoid
2001

64.4% MOT pass rate from 1,334 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Stilo is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 69.0% across 6,451 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Stilo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Stilo THIS CAR 66.4% 566,057 62,169 mi 24 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
Vauxhall Omega 69.1% 680,295 97,175 mi 32 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Stilo?

The Fiat Stilo has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.4% across 566,057 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Fiat Stilo are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (47,634 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (19,816), and headlamp aim too low (19,692). 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 Stilo owner drives around 6,821 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 Stilo models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 Stilo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Stilo reliable?
Based on 566,057 MOT tests, the Fiat Stilo has a 66.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Stilo?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and headlamp aim too low. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Stilo do per year?
The typical Fiat Stilo does around 6,821 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Stilo last?
Most Fiat Stilo models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 43,678 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Stilo?
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 Stilo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Stilo is 2007 with a 69.0% pass rate across 6,451 tests.