Does the Fiat 124 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Fiat 124 records 4.86 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.79 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+0.07, 95% interval −0.30 to +0.44). It ranks 284 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Fiat 124 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Fiat 124 is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 176 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 176 | 1.26 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 95 | 0.68 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 88 | 0.63 |
| A headlamp cleaning device inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID) | 69 | 0.49 |
| Audible warning inoperative | 35 | 0.25 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,950 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Fiat 124 2016 · Fiat 124 2017 · Fiat 124 2018 · Fiat 124 by postcode area · Fiat 124 brakes failures · Fiat 124 vehicle identification failures · Fiat 124 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Fiat 124 steering failures · Fiat 124 suspension failures · Fiat 124 tyres failures · Fiat 124 visibility failures