Fiat Motorhome

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 2.8 diesel. 51 of 229 tests failed, 22%.

Better than 82% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
• A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
• Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
• Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

Where it stands out against its peers

• Visibility: failed more often than 93% of 2004 cars — 25% of its 51 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 9%.

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.

• Brakes — 39% of its failures
  • Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
  • Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
• Suspension — 24% 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
• Tyres and wheels — 12% of its failures
  • Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
• Lights and electrics — 61% of its failures
  • Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Visibility — 25% of its failures
  • Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
• Body and structure — 24% of its failures
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
  • 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

When it starts failing

At 60–80k miles this one fails 33% of its inspections, against the 25% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

151 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.