Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Fiat 124?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2016 Fiat 124?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2016 Fiat 124?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2016 Fiat 124 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 656 vehicles, the 2016 Fiat 124 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Fiat 124?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Fiat 124 are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.8% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (25.1% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Fiat 124?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Fiat 124 (2016)

656 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.5% first-time pass rate

2016 Fiat 124

CarHunch analysed 656 real MOT records for the 2016 Fiat 124. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 FIAT 124 is a reliable proposition, with a 90.5% first-time pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%—and only 19.1% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is low enough not to raise alarm bells. This is a car that doesn't break down often.

At 26,042 miles average, these cars have been relatively lightly used for their age, which explains the solid pass performance. However, the 6.3 advisories per vehicle suggest minor wear items (suspension bushes, trim) are creeping in, so budget for routine maintenance as the cars age. When you're viewing one, ask for the full MOT history and get a pre-purchase inspection to flag any advisories that are about to fail.

The 2016 Fiat 124 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (90.5%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

90.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.83

Over 7.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

24k

Middle half: 16k–35k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 656 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 656 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 25.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 25.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 7.2%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Lighting 5%

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 656 Fiat 124 cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Fiat 124

Based on MOT data from 656 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 10,477 Fiat 124 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 24.5%

2,571

White 20.1%

2,101

Blue 16.4%

1,722

Green 11.1%

1,158

Grey 8%

836

Black 4.8%

499

Cream 4.5%

474

Yellow 3.7%

383

Bronze 2.5%

260

Silver 1.8%

188

Brown 1.5%

159

Beige 1.2%

126

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Fiat 124 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

23,585

typical

15,627

low mileage

35,147

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Fiat 124 vehicles fall between 15,627 and 35,147 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,627 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 15,627–35,147 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Fiat 124s sit.

⚠ Over 47,448 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Fiat 124 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Fiat 124s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 625 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

7.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.83

Avg failures per vehicle

6.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Fiat 124: All 124 years → Which year to buy? →

2017 2018

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Compare with another model

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Average reliability — agree?