Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 10,291 tests

Pass rate climbs 10.7 points across the cohorts — newer Unclassified examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 7,311

Pass

81.1%

Fail

14.1%

PRS

3.8%

Avg mileage at test

49,286 mi

2018–2020 cohort 2,267

Pass

89.6%

Fail

7.2%

PRS

2.9%

Avg mileage at test

18,390 mi

2021+ cohort 713

Pass

91.9%

Fail

2.8%

PRS

4.8%

Avg mileage at test

11,475 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

The picture

Unclassified: above-average pass rates, with caveats

Across 5,842 MOT tests, the Unclassified returns 83.7% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a number-plate lamp out. Wipers that don't clear the screen and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 38,901, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 4–22

Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

4–22

out of 50

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Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

134 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
02

Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

129 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
03

Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

125 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
04

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

110 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
05

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated

103 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
06

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

97 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
07

Wiper blade defective

88 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
08

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

81 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
09

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

79 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
10

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

70 occurrences · 0.7% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

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Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 10.7-point gap between bands means the year you buy Fiat Unclassified has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.

Best band to buy

91.9%

2021+ registration

the 2021-on band climbs to 91.9% — a 10.7-point improvement. Tests in this band average 11,475 miles — roughly 38K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: inoperative in the case of multiple lamps…, too high — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.

Band to be cautious about

81.1%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 81.1% pass rate against a fleet average of 91.9% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: inoperative in the case of multiple lamps…, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and efficiency below requirements. Average mileage on test for this band is 49,286 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.

Best band to buy: 2021+ (91.9% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (81.1% pass). That's a 10.7-point spread across 7,311 older tests and 713 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Hycote

Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Fiat Broom Yellow 12.5ml

£6.59

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Hycote

Hycote Fiat Capri Blue Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml

£6.59

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Hycote Fiat Black Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml

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Hycote Fiat Red Orange Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml

£6.59

View at My Motor World →

Click Mechanic · affiliate

Book a mobile mechanic

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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide

Book a mechanic at your door.

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Buying or keeping an Unclassified?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own an Unclassified and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.