Used car guide · 1996–2014

Fiat Bravo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Fiat Bravo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 15,253 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1998 Fiat Bravo

Too few Fiat Bravo cars first registered in 1998 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Fiat Bravo as a whole.

82on the UK register at the end of 2025
Dieselmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 1998 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

201420132012201120102009200820072002200120001999199819971996

What usually goes wrong with a Fiat Bravo?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Fiat Bravo in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Fiat Bravo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Exhaust system

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2010.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2009.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Diesel

  • Coil springs

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2009.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2007 and 2009.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Track rod ends

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2012.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Fiat Bravo MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Fiat Bravo did best (58% passed first time, 6 points below all 2012 cars) and the 2011 did worst (53%, 9 points below all 2011 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201455%70% -15157 (small sample)
201361%67% -6408 (small sample)
201258%64% -6754
201153%62% -91,164
201053%60% -71,759
200950%59% -93,624
200849%57% -84,285
200751%57% -63,102

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Fiat Bravo

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

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Fiat Bravo as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Fiat Bravo as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the Fiat Bravo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score