Used car guide

2018 Fiat Tipo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Fiat Tipos, from 1,978 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,978MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
7,600typical miles a year
4.6×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

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

  • Shock absorbers4.6× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    13.3% All 2018 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 0.5% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints11.2× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    5.6% All 2018 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.2% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Coil springs3.2× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    5.5% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 1.3% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Engine warning light2.3× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    2.5% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Headlights2.2× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    2.4% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

By area

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

  • Tyres
    35% 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.

  • Suspension
    26% 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.

  • Brakes
    23% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    10% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

Looking at a Fiat Tipo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021746Tyres 29%
20201,035Tyres 34%
20191,623Tyres 33%
20175,929Tyres 34%
20161,119Tyres 35%

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