1989 Fiat 126 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

86.0%

Latest Pass Rate

410

Total Tests (All Years)

30,319 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 126

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1989 Fiat 126 as it ages.

20 yrs53.7%

→ ↑4.6%

21 yrs58.3%

→ ↓6.0%

22 yrs52.3%

→ ↑0.1%

23 yrs52.4%

→ ↓4.8%

24 yrs47.6%

→ ↑19.1%

25 yrs66.7%

→ ↓4.5%

26 yrs62.2%

→ ↑9.7%

27 yrs71.9%

→ ↑4.6%

28 yrs76.5%

→ ↑9.5%

35 yrs86.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	53.7%	41
21 yrs	58.3%	48
22 yrs	52.3%	44
23 yrs	52.4%	42
24 yrs	47.6%	42
25 yrs	66.7%	33
26 yrs	62.2%	37
27 yrs	71.9%	32
28 yrs	76.5%	34
35 yrs	86.0%	57

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Fiat 126 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	86%	57
2017 (28 yrs)	76.5%	34
2016 (27 yrs)	71.9%	32
2015 (26 yrs)	62.2%	37
2014 (25 yrs)	66.7%	33
2013 (24 yrs)	47.6%	42
2012 (23 yrs)	52.4%	42
2011 (22 yrs)	52.3%	44
2010 (21 yrs)	58.3%	48
2009 (20 yrs)	53.7%	41

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 41Avg Mileage 27,434Top Failure Brakes — 34.1%

2010High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 48Avg Mileage 37,121Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%

2011High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 44Avg Mileage 30,860Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.5%

2012High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 42Avg Mileage 32,700Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%

2013High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 42Avg Mileage 34,502Top Failure Suspension — 100.0%

2014

66.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 33Avg Mileage 35,218Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.6%

2015High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 37Avg Mileage 35,883Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 91.9%

2016

71.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 32Avg Mileage 29,989Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%

2017

76.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 34Avg Mileage 33,966Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.2%

2024

86.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 57Avg Mileage 30,319Top Failure Visibility — 17.5%

MOT results for 1989 Fiat 126 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	53.7%	41	27,434	Brakes — 34.1%
2010	21	58.3%	48	37,121	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.0%
2011	22	52.3%	44	30,860	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.5%
2012	23	52.4%	42	32,700	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%
2013	24	47.6%	42	34,502	Suspension — 100.0%
2014	25	66.7%	33	35,218	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.6%
2015	26	62.2%	37	35,883	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 91.9%
2016	27	71.9%	32	29,989	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%
2017	28	76.5%	34	33,966	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.2%
2024	35	86.0%	57	30,319	Visibility — 17.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Fiat 126, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

46.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

35.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

20.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Visibility

17.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Not enough data to compare failures across ages.

Other Manufacture Years

1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1998

← Back to Fiat 126 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Fiat 126 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Fiat 126 cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 410 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.