Used car guide

2020 Fiat Tipo diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Fiat Tipo first registered in 2020 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 440 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 440 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

440MOTs of 2020 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
80%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 87%)
10,000typical miles a year
2.7×the usual rate for brake discs

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Fiat Tipo diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Fiat Tipo diesel than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Brake discs2.7× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    20% All 2020 cars
    7.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.4% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Wipers2.2× usual
    Fiat Tipo
    6.8% All 2020 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 2% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Common 2020 Fiat Tipo diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Fiat Tipo diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    25% 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
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Suspension
    10% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Fiat Tipo 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 brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2020 Fiat Tipo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2020 Fiat Tipo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Fiat Tipo?

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 Tipo compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
2022220Tyres 25%
20211,451Tyres 28%
20194,802Tyres 30%
20185,960Tyres 33%
201718,059Tyres 34%
20163,424Tyres 33%
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–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 Tipo cars first registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score