Fiat Bessacarr MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 2,463 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 11.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Fiat Bessacarr MOT Reliability Overview
The Fiat Bessacarr is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,463 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 13 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.8% and a failure rate of 11.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Fiat Bessacarr earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Fiat Bessacarr presents for MOT with approximately 18,974 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2018 models achieve the highest pass rate at 96.7%, while 2005 models have the lowest at 67.6%. This 29.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Fiat Bessacarr is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, affecting 8.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Brakes at 4.3%. Visibility rounds out the top three at 4.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Fiat Bessacarr. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 9 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Fiat Bessacarr ages relatively gracefully. The failure rate increase of 16% after warranty is below average, suggesting good long-term reliability. Peak failure occurs at age 8 (11.5% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 10.0% | 246 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 107 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.3% | 105 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.7% | 90 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.2% | 79 |
| 6 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.3% | 32 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.3% | 32 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.9% | 21 |
| 9 | Steering | 0.7% | 17 |
| 10 | Non-component Advisories | 0.2% | 6 |
| 11 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.2% | 6 |
| 12 | Driver's View Of The Road | 0.2% | 5 |
| 13 | Road Wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 18,974 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.26 | 10.0% | 246 |
| Visibility | 2.36 | 4.5% | 110 |
| Brakes | 2.29 | 4.3% | 107 |
| Tyres | 1.93 | 3.7% | 90 |
| Suspension | 1.69 | 3.2% | 79 |
| Body & Structure | 0.68 | 1.3% | 32 |
| Seat Belts | 0.68 | 1.3% | 32 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.45 | 0.9% | 21 |
| Steering | 0.36 | 0.7% | 17 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.13 | 0.2% | 6 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.13 | 0.2% | 6 |
| Wheels | 0.04 | 0.1% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Fiat Bessacarr has 18,974 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Fiat Bessacarr has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.90% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Fiat Bessacarr MOT Data
The Fiat Bessacarr is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 2,463 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 13 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.8% and a failure rate of 11.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Fiat Bessacarr owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Bessacarr is likely to perform.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 8.5% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 8.5% of MOT failures on the Fiat Bessacarr. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Brakes — 4.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 4.3% of MOT failures on the Fiat Bessacarr. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Visibility — 4.3% of failures
Visibility issues account for 4.3% of MOT failures on the Fiat Bessacarr. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat Bessacarr?
Based on 2,463 MOT tests in our database, the Fiat Bessacarr has an overall pass rate of 88.8% (11.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Fiat Bessacarr?
The top 3 reasons a Fiat Bessacarr fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (8.5%), 2. Brakes (4.3%), 3. Visibility (4.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Fiat Bessacarr reliable?
With a 11.2% MOT failure rate, the Bessacarr is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Fiat Bessacarr?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (8.5%); Brakes (4.3%); Visibility (4.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.