Used car guide

2010 Fiat Qubo diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Fiat Qubo first registered in 2010 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 1,295 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,295MOTs of 2010 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
58%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 60%)
6,000typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Fiat Qubo diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Fiat Qubo diesel than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Shock absorbers2.2× usual
    Fiat Qubo
    16.1% All 2010 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 3.3% here, against 7% of all 2010 cars. Braking performance: 2.5% here, against 6% of all 2010 cars.

Common 2010 Fiat Qubo diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2010 Fiat Qubo diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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
    37% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    27% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    23% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    10% 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 2010 Fiat Qubo diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2010 Fiat Qubo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Qubo?

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 Qubo compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020111Tyres 23%
2019330Tyres 28%
2018354Tyres 30%
2017621Tyres 29%
2016489Tyres 32%
2015550Tyres 31%
2014882Suspension 35%
20131,781Suspension 36%
20122,517Suspension 38%
20111,866Suspension 40%
20091,301Suspension 51%
2008–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 Qubo cars first registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score