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Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187) (1998-2010) reliability

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Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187) built around 2003: not enough MOT data yet

We've only seen a handful of Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187) models built around 2003 so far. Too few to spot a pattern yet.

Looking at a Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

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Check a car’s number plate to see its own MOT record, or come back when there’s more MOT history.

Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187)
No reliability rating: not enough tests to rate1998-2010HatchbackPETROL

Based on 1,424 tests of Seicento models registered 1998-2010.

Mk1 (187) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
19032.6%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
43534.0%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
31433.1%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
25337.1%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
23230.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 24 years old.

How the Seicento Mk1 (187) compares

At each age below, see how the Seicento Mk1 (187) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 1,828 tests across 5 Fiat models, built around 2003 (22 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateFiat average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
19032.6%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
43534.0%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
31433.1%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
25337.1%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
23230.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Independent inspection

High priority

Have an independent specialist inspect the car before you commit.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

Check ride height is even side-to-side and look for cracked or rusted coils.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Seicento Mk1 (187).

  1. 1

    Subaru Impreza

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    23.2%

    Lower fail rate: 23.2%, against 34.0% for the Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187), both built around 2003.

    2 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    1,619 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

  2. 2

    Nissan Almera

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    31.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    7.7%
    Dangerous
    6.2%

    Lower fail rate: 31.3%, against 34.0% for the Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187), both built around 2003.

    1,788 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

  3. 3

    Toyota Corolla

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    30%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.9%
    Dangerous
    7.8%

    Lower fail rate: 30.0%, against 34.0% for the Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187), both built around 2003.

    7 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    5,293 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

  4. 4

    Renault Megane

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    32%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    8.1%
    Dangerous
    7.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    87%

    Lower fail rate: 32.0%, against 34.0% for the Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187), both built around 2003.

    2 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    1,962 MOT tests on cars built around 2003

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

3 recalls in all

All 3 Seicento Mk1 (187) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 3 recalls

Top concerns

  • Possibility of leakage from fuel tank due to corrosion
  • Possible chafing of brake pipes.
  • Brake pedal may fracture

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

What has gone wrong on Seicento Mk1 (187) cars built around 2003

The share of petrol cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 381 cars.

Structural systems

Emissions
54%
Suspension
50%
Drivetrain
13%
Steering
6%
Bodywork
6%

Wear items

Brakes
82%
Lighting
61%
Tyres
55%

Rust, which the MOT calls corrosion: 21% of these cars show rust-related issues at this age.

Check the sills, subframe and brake pipes before you decide.

How Seicento Mk1 (187) cars have aged

How Seicento Mk1 (187) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

0%10%20%30%40%1819202122232425Age at MOTBuilt around 2003, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 35.6% (689 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2003, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 31.9% (527 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2003, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 33.6% (428 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2003, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 34.5% (345 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2003, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 33.5% (281 tests, 2025 data)2003Built around 2002, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 34.3% (565 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2002, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 34.4% (456 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2002, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 32.9% (343 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2002, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 31.9% (263 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2002, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 32.4% (207 tests, 2025 data)2002Built around 2001, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 32.6% (433 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2001, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 33.3% (333 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2001, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 35.7% (277 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2001, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 34.0% (200 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2001, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 35.1% (168 tests, 2025 data)2001Built around 2000, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 37.3% (306 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2000, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 33.0% (218 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2000, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 35.9% (170 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2000, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 34.3% (134 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2000, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 29.8% (104 tests, 2025 data)2000Built around 1999, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 37.3% (158 tests, 2021 data)Built around 1999, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 37.1% (105 tests, 2022 data)Built around 1999, 24 years old at the time of MOT: 32.9% (82 tests, 2023 data)Built around 1999, 25 years old at the time of MOT: 29.3% (58 tests, 2024 data)1999
First registered around 2003First registered around 2002First registered around 2001First registered around 2000
How each part holds up as Mk1 (187) cars age

How each part holds up as Mk1 (187) cars age

The share of petrol cars built pre-2005 that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Rates usually rise with age, but can dip slightly as cars leave the road.

Part of the car22 years23 years24 years
Suspension50%45%31%
Brakes82%83%83%
Emissions54%45%41%
Tyres55%56%53%
Lighting61%65%67%
Drivetrain13%11%9%
Bodywork6%6%8%
Steering6%6%5%
Corrosion21%22%25%

Based on petrol cars in the pre-2005 build-year band, from 381 to 732 cars at each age.

Mk1 (187) variants compared
All generations of this modelNot enough data

Most common issues on Fiat Seicentos of this age

This list covers every Fiat Seicento built around 2003, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk1 (187) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Coil spring corroded

    22.5%
    Advisory: 151Fail: 17 (10% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    20.7%
    Advisory: 108Fail: 17 (14% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    17.9%
    Advisory: 79Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Exhaust has a minor leak

    15.9%
    Advisory: 52Fail: 18 (26% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    15.2%
    Advisory: 80Fail: 12 (13% of the times it was found)

Based on 435 tests

Looking at a Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2003 (22 years old), the Fiat Seicento Mk1 (187) (1998-2010) fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. This is based on 435 22-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 1,424 MOT tests on Fiat Seicentos first registered between 1998-2010. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.