Verdict
The Fiat Seicento passes its MOT first time on 50.7% of tests, 10.8 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (61.5%). That puts it ahead of 12% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2002 Seicento does best (beats 14% of cars) and the 1999 worst (beats 6%).
Of its engines, the 1.1 Petrol does best (beats 13%) and the 0.9 Petrol worst (beats 6%).
Better than average on steering.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Petrol | 50.9% | Beats 13% | E |
| 0.9 Petrol | 49.4% | Beats 6% | E |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Headlight aim 2.5× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Brake performance 3.8× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal. - Handbrake performance 3.8× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope. - Windscreen washers 2.0× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail. - Exhaust system 2.1× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath. - Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 1.6× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headlight aim | 10.9% | 4.4% | 2.5× |
| Brake performance | 7.6% | 2.0% | 3.8× |
| Handbrake performance | 7.4% | 1.9% | 3.8× |
| Brake pipes | 6.5% | 2.3% | 2.8× |
| Windscreen washers | 5.8% | 2.9% | 2.0× |
| Service brake imbalance | 5.7% | 1.3% | 4.5× |
| Windscreen wipers | 4.8% | 3.8% | 1.3× |
| Exhaust system | 4.8% | 2.2% | 2.1× |
| Sidelights | 4.5% | 3.2% | 1.4× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 4.2% | 2.5% | 1.7× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 109.2 |
| Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 61.7 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 60.7 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 58.4 |
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 57.5 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 52.0 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 46.2 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 46.2 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2003 Fiat Seicento1 engine50.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Petrol | 50.3% | Beats 11% | E |
2002 Fiat Seicento1 engine51.2% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Petrol | 51.2% | Beats 14% | E |
2001 Fiat Seicento1 engine51.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Petrol | 51.1% | Beats 13% | E |
2000 Fiat Seicento2 engines50.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 Petrol | 49.2% | Beats 6% | E |
| 1.1 Petrol | 52.2% | Beats 14% | E |
1999 Fiat Seicento1 engine49.7% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 Petrol | 49.7% | Beats 6% | E |
FAQ
What is the Fiat Seicento MOT pass rate?
50.7% of MOT tests on the Fiat Seicento were passed first time, based on 21,894 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1999–2003. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 61.5% of the time.
Is the Fiat Seicento reliable?
On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 12% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Fiat Seicento year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2002 Seicento does best for its age and mileage: it beats 14% of cars on UK roads. The 1999 does worst: it beats 6%.
Which Fiat Seicento engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.1 Petrol does best: it beats 13% of cars on UK roads. The 0.9 Petrol does worst: it beats 6%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Fiat Seicento?
The most common failure items are headlight aim, brake performance, handbrake performance. Compared with similar cars, headlight aim comes up 2.5× as often.