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Fiat Ulysse Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Ulysse car check

Is the Fiat Ulysse reliable? We analysed 121,138 real MOT tests across 11,094 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 121,138 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.8%
Typical Mileage
94,580mi
Annual Mileage
7,481mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Fiat Ulysse 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 position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Ulysse.

Fiat Ulysse Number Plates

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

Fiat Ulysse MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

69.4%
2006
67.6%
2005
67.2%
2004
66%
2003
69%
2002
67.3%
2001
65.7%
2000
65%
1999
63.8%
1998
64.1%
1997
63.3%
1996
63.3%
1995

Fiat Ulysse Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 7,292
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,107
position lamp(s) not working 4,401
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 4,220
Stop lamp not working 4,057
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 3,896
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 3,853
Registration plate lamp not working 3,577
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 3,427
constant velocity joint gaiter split 3,013

Fiat Ulysse Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,785 mi/yr
Typical
7,481 mi/yr
Average
9,162 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,940 mi/yr

Fiat Ulysse MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2006 72 69.4% 48,000 76,526 103,439
2005 10,565 67.6% 57,327 85,000 116,485
2004 21,899 67.2% 55,901 83,084 114,038
2003 19,612 66.0% 52,107 77,328 105,824
2002 4,166 69.0% 58,487 86,300 119,463
2001 9,277 67.3% 61,801 86,276 118,711
2000 10,340 65.7% 67,158 91,131 121,283
1999 9,372 65.0% 74,294 96,275 123,430
1998 12,067 63.8% 84,620 106,172 132,272
1997 12,999 64.1% 90,430 112,286 138,126
1996 9,367 63.3% 98,610 119,951 145,471
1995 1,285 63.3% 99,364 121,052 146,086

How Long Does a Fiat Ulysse Last?

Based on 11,094 Fiat Ulysse vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.8 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Fiat Ulysse Mileage Distribution

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

Median
94,580 mi
75th Percentile
124,604 mi
95th Percentile
179,303 mi
Max Recorded
1,206,222 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Ulysse

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

Best year
2006

69.4% MOT pass rate from 72 tests

Year to avoid
1995

63.3% MOT pass rate from 1,285 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Ulysse is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 69.4% across 72 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Fiat Ulysse Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Ulysse THIS CAR 65.8% 121,138 94,580 mi 31 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
Honda Cbr 85.8% 98,965 12,603 mi 34 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Fiat Ulysse?

The Fiat Ulysse has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.8% across 121,138 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Fiat Ulysse are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (7,292 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (5,107), and position lamp(s) not working (4,401). 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 Ulysse owner drives around 7,481 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 Ulysse models stay on UK roads for around 31 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 Ulysse — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Ulysse reliable?
Based on 121,138 MOT tests, the Fiat Ulysse has a 65.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Ulysse?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Ulysse do per year?
The typical Fiat Ulysse does around 7,481 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Ulysse last?
Most Fiat Ulysse models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 11,094 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Ulysse?
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 Ulysse?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Ulysse is 2006 with a 69.4% pass rate across 72 tests.