CarVerify

Piaggio Carnaby Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Piaggio Carnaby car check

Is the Piaggio Carnaby reliable? We analysed 1,278 real MOT tests across 183 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,278 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.0%
Typical Mileage
14,470mi
Annual Mileage
1,602mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
19yrs

The Piaggio Carnaby is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Piaggio Carnaby.

Piaggio Carnaby Number Plates

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

Piaggio Carnaby MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.1%
2010
83%
2009
80.1%
2008
82%
2007

Piaggio Carnaby Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 17
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 13
Headlamp aim too high 12
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 8
Tyre has a tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 8
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 8
suspension bush has excessive free play 7
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 7

Piaggio Carnaby Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Piaggio Carnaby models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 12
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 10

Piaggio Carnaby Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
640 mi/yr
Typical
1,602 mi/yr
Average
2,524 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,827 mi/yr

Piaggio Carnaby MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 59 88.1% 10,840 14,148 17,171
2009 294 83.0% 9,950 16,598 27,611
2008 458 80.1% 7,313 12,780 20,832
2007 439 82.0% 9,859 15,072 23,288

How Long Does a Piaggio Carnaby Last?

Based on 183 Piaggio Carnaby vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.3 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
19 years

Piaggio Carnaby Mileage Distribution

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

Median
14,470 mi
75th Percentile
23,210 mi
95th Percentile
43,637 mi
Max Recorded
126,919 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Piaggio Carnaby

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

Best year
2010

88.1% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

Year to avoid
2008

80.1% MOT pass rate from 458 tests

The best year to buy a used Piaggio Carnaby is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.1% across 59 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Piaggio Carnaby Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Piaggio Carnaby THIS CAR 82.0% 1,278 14,470 mi 19 yrs
Piaggio Vespa 83.8% 355,016 10,772 mi 30 yrs
Piaggio Zip 77% 101,622 9,391 mi 29 yrs
Piaggio Nrg 72.9% 52,129 10,153 mi 27 yrs
Iveco Daily 35S11 64.1% 996 121,912 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Piaggio Vespa (83.8% pass rate) and the Piaggio Zip (77.0% pass rate), the Piaggio Carnaby sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Piaggio Carnaby?

The Piaggio Carnaby has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.0% across 1,278 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Piaggio Carnaby are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (17 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (13), and headlamp aim too high (12). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Piaggio Carnaby with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Piaggio Carnaby owner drives around 1,602 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 Piaggio Carnaby models stay on UK roads for around 19 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.

Piaggio Carnaby — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Piaggio Carnaby reliable?
Based on 1,278 MOT tests, the Piaggio Carnaby has a 82.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Piaggio Carnaby?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and headlamp aim too high. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Piaggio Carnaby do per year?
The typical Piaggio Carnaby does around 1,602 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Piaggio Carnaby last?
Most Piaggio Carnaby models stay on UK roads for around 19 years based on our analysis of 183 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Piaggio Carnaby?
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 Piaggio Carnaby?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Piaggio Carnaby is 2010 with a 88.1% pass rate across 59 tests.