Used car guide

2018 Fiat Fullback: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Fiat Fullbacks, from 967 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

967MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
10,800typical miles a year
14.9×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Fiat Fullbacks than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Rigid brake pipes14.9× usual
    Fiat Fullback
    11.9% All 2018 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Number plate lights3.5× usual
    Fiat Fullback
    6.3% All 2018 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints15.5× usual
    Fiat Fullback
    3.1% All 2018 cars
    0.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 4.1% here, against 13.9% of all 2018 cars.

By area

The share of 2018 Fiat Fullback MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    28% 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.

  • Tyres
    19% 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 electrics
    14% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    11% 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 mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20171,266Brakes 28%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Fiat Fullbacks registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score