Used car guide

2011 Fiat Bravo petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Fiat Bravo first registered in 2011 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 445 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 445 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

445MOTs of 2011 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
55%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 62%)
6,400typical miles a year
3.9×the usual rate for exhaust system

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Exhaust system3.9× usual
    Fiat Bravo
    22.7% All 2011 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 1.6% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Headlights2× usual
    Fiat Bravo
    9.9% All 2011 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 3% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Common 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    38% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    25% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2011 Fiat Bravo petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Bravo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Fiat Bravo compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014157Suspension 46%
2013408Suspension 44%
2012754Suspension 47%
20101,759Suspension 51%
20093,624Suspension 52%
20084,285Suspension 53%
20073,102Suspension 54%
2002–Too few tests
2001–Too few tests
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Fiat Bravo cars first registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score