Fiat Idea
Registered from 2004 to 2007.
About this model
The Fiat Idea is a car manufactured and marketed by Fiat from 2003 to 2012 over a single generation with one intermediate facelift. It is a five-passenger mini MPV with five doors. It has a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout.
From the Wikipedia article Fiat Idea, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 1.4 petrol. 61 of 176 tests failed, 35%.
Better than 4% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body and structure | 51% | 31 |
| Suspension | 41% | 25 |
| Lights and electrics | 33% | 20 |
| Tyres and wheels | 33% | 20 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 25% | 15 |
| Visibility | 21% | 13 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
Where it stands out against its peers
- Body and structure: failed more often than 96% of 2004 cars — 51% of its 61 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 23%.
- Tyres and wheels: failed more often than 97% of 2004 cars — 33% of its 61 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 15%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 41% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Tyres and wheels — 33% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Exhaust and emissions — 25% of its failures
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Lights and electrics — 33% of its failures
- Body and structure — 51% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Visibility — 21% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 36% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–60k miles | 34% | 22% | 35 | |
| 60–80k miles | 38% | 25% | 56 | |
| 80–100k miles | 36% | 28% | 44 |
135 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.