Used car guide · 1998–2022

Fiat Scudo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Fiat Scudo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 24,977 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

24,977MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
983on the UK register
2008best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20222016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

What usually goes wrong with a Fiat Scudo?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Fiat Scudo in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Fiat Scudo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 12.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

    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.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 18.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2022.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

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

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Brake lights

    up to 4.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

    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.

Fiat Scudo MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Fiat Scudo did best (50% passed first time, 7 points below all 2008 cars) and the 2015 did worst (55%, 19 points below all 2015 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202271%89% -18625
201656%77% -21365 (small sample)
201555%74% -19812
201455%70% -151,009
201355%67% -121,262
201251%64% -131,444
201148%62% -141,756
201050%60% -101,315
200948%59% -111,538
200850%57% -73,569
200747%57% -103,365
200649%56% -72,422
200548%57% -91,689
200453%57% -41,275
200350%57% -7845
200257%58% -1519
200157%60% -3483 (small sample)
200058%61% -3358 (small sample)
199963%63% +0214 (small sample)
199859%65% -6112 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Fiat Scudo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 12.4× as often on the Fiat Scudo as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Fiat Scudo as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Fiat Scudo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Scudo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score