Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Fiat Qubo?

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 2012 Fiat Qubo?

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 2012 Fiat Qubo?

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.

How many 2012 Fiat Qubo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

48% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Fiat Qubo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,033 vehicles, the 2012 Fiat Qubo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Fiat Qubo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Fiat Qubo are: Oil leak, but not excessive (56.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (55.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.4% 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 2012 Fiat Qubo?

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 Qubo (2012)

1,033 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.5% first-time pass rate

2012 Fiat Qubo

CarHunch analysed 1,033 real MOT records for the 2012 Fiat Qubo. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Fiat Qubo sits slightly below the UK average with a 77.5% first-time pass rate, and nearly half of examples (47.8%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—this is a genuine concern for a buyer. Diesel and petrol variants perform almost identically, both around 77–78%.

At 50,500 miles median, these cars have covered a reasonable distance for their age, yet they're racking up an average of 3.2 failures and 16.2 advisories per test, suggesting wear-related issues accumulate steadily. Before buying, request a full service history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and cooling systems—the high advisory rate points to these areas tiring first.

The 2012 Fiat Qubo has a decent first-time pass rate (77.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

77.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

47.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.18

Over 13.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

50k

Middle half: 35k–64k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.2 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 1,033 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,033 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 56.3%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view

Tyre wear 55.8%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear 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 40.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front 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.

Suspension & steering 32.3%

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken · Offside Front coil spring broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,033 Fiat Qubo cars.

Before you buy a 2012 Fiat Qubo

Based on MOT data from 1,033 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 47.8% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (86%)	888	77.3%	3.17
Petrol (14%)	145	78.4%	3.2

Colour Breakdown

Based on 5,225 Fiat Qubo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 28.1%

1,469

Red 17.1%

892

Silver 15.9%

830

Green 14.2%

742

Black 12.1%

630

White 6.6%

344

Orange 4.7%

244

Bronze 0.7%

Grey 0.3%

Beige 0.2%

Purple 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Fiat Qubo 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.

50,499

typical

35,478

low mileage

63,578

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Fiat Qubo vehicles fall between 35,478 and 63,578 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 35,478 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.

✓ 35,478–63,578 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Fiat Qubos sit.

⚠ Over 85,830 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Fiat Qubo — Still on the Road

Most 2012 Fiat Qubos are still being driven.

749 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 74% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

13.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.18

Avg failures per vehicle

16.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Fiat →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Fiat Qubo stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing