2017 Fiat 124: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Fiat 124s, from 815 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
What stands out
Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Fiat 124s than on all cars registered in 2017.
- Sidelights4× usualFiat 1244% All 2017 cars1%
Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 0.8% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
By area
The share of 2017 Fiat 124 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Brakes21% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Tyres19% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Lights and electrics13% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Suspension9% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors5% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,302 | Brakes 21% |
| 2016 | 658 | Brakes 22% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Fiat 124s registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score