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Fiat 124 car check

Find out if a Fiat 124 has outstanding finance, has been written off or stolen, how many owners it’s had, and which known problems apply to the generation you’re looking at.

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian. Results in under a minute.

Typical price
£12,0855 at dealers
MOT failure rate
11.7%5k tests
Known problems
5across 124
Full report
£7.49one-off, no subscription

Which 124 are you looking at?

Each 124 generation has its own weak spots. Here are the known problems.

  1. Front coil spring failure

    Safety risk 124

    Front coil springs fracture or weaken seriously at 2.3 times the fleet average, with failures occurring surprisingly early in the vehicle's life. This appears to be a quality control issue with the spring steel or manufacturing process, as failures are documented on very low mileage examples. A fractured spring can cause sudden loss of vehicle height and handling control, and poses a significant safety risk.

    What to check: Visually inspect both front springs through the wheel wells, looking for obvious breaks, cracks, or separated coils in the spring steel. Check that both sides of the car sit at the same height - a dropped corner indicates spring failure or significant weakening. Look for rust staining or corrosio...

  2. Suspension component wear

    Wear item 124

    This affects the front lower arm bushes, anti-roll bar links, and track rod ends most commonly. The suspension shares components with the Mazda MX-5 platform but appears more susceptible to wear, possibly due to different bush compound specifications. Early failure affects handling precision and tyre wear patterns.

    What to check: Check all four tyres for uneven wear patterns, particularly feathering on the inner or outer edges which indicates suspension geometry problems. Visually inspect the front lower wishbones for cracked or perished rubber bushes - look for black rubber debris around the bush housings. Check for play...

  3. Brake disc warping and uneven wear

    Safety and MOT risk 124

    The 124 Spider experiences brake disc problems at 3.6 times the national fleet average, with excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution appearing unusually early in the car's life. This manifests as brake judder or pulsing through the brake pedal and steering wheel under braking. The front discs appear particularly susceptible to warping, possibly due to the lightweight sports car application generating high thermal loads on relatively thin discs.

    What to check: Visually inspect both front brake discs through the wheel spokes for obvious scoring, cracking, or blue discoloration indicating overheating. Run your finger across the disc surface to feel for ridges, grooves, or uneven wear patterns. Check brake pad thickness through the caliper inspection wind...

  4. Wheel bearing wear

    Wear item 124

    Wheel bearings show excessive play at 3.3 times the fleet average, typically affecting the front bearings between 20,000-40,000 miles. This is unusually early for wheel bearing failure and may be related to the sports car suspension setup placing higher lateral loads on the bearing assemblies during cornering. The bearings are integrated hub units requiring complete hub replacement rather than bearing-only service.

    What to check: Jack up each front wheel and grasp it at 12 and 6 o'clock positions. Rock the wheel vertically to check for play in the wheel bearing - any movement indicates wear. Spin each wheel by hand and listen for grinding, rumbling, or rough rotation which indicates bearing deterioration. Check for heat b...

  5. Brake caliper binding

    Safety and MOT risk 124

    Brake calipers show binding at 2.5 times the fleet average, causing significant brake effort to be recorded even when no brake is applied. This typically affects the front sliding calipers where the guide pins seize due to inadequate lubrication or corrosion. The condition causes continuous brake drag, overheating the affected disc and pad, and can lead to brake fade or fire in extreme cases.

    What to check: Check each brake disc for blue discoloration or excessive heat staining which indicates overheating from brake drag. Look for uneven pad wear visible through the caliper - one pad significantly thinner than its partner suggests caliper binding. Smell around each wheel for the distinctive acrid od...

What 124s cost at dealers now

From 5 used 124s we track on UK dealer websites.

Typical asking price
£12,085
Typical mileage
40,599 miles
Price change vs last month
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124 MOT results

11.7%

of 124 MOT tests end in a fail, from 4,981 tests.

Most common reasons for failing

  1. Suspension ball joints wornSuspension
  2. Suspension pin, bush or joint wornSuspension
  3. Headlight faultLights & Electrics

Check the 124 you’re buying

One report covers outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and previous owners from Experian, plus MOT history, mileage and the known problems for its generation.

Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian.

What the check includes

124 questions

Is the Fiat 124 reliable?

11.7% of 124 models fail their MOT based on 4,981 tests analysed. That’s better than average for the class. There are 5 known problems to watch for, the most serious being front coil spring failure. A full history check shows whether a specific car has had related write-offs or insurance claims.

What are the main problems with a Fiat 124?

The most serious known issues are front coil spring failure, suspension component wear, brake disc warping and uneven wear. Our car check flags whether a specific 124 has been written off or had insurance claims linked to these faults.

How do I check if a Fiat 124 has outstanding finance?

Enter the registration on this page. We query Experian’s finance database and return any outstanding agreements within a minute. If finance is still owed, the finance company can legally repossess the car even after you’ve paid the seller. At £7.49 it’s the cheapest way to avoid a car that isn’t legally for sale.

How do I check if a Fiat 124 has been written off?

Our check queries Experian’s insurance write-off database for Cat A, B, S and N markers. A Cat S or N 124 has been structurally or non-structurally damaged and repaired. This doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, but it affects resale value and some insurers won’t cover it. The check costs £7.49.

Can I check a Fiat 124 for free?

You can check MOT history free on GOV.UK, which shows past test results and advisories. What it won’t show is outstanding finance, write-offs or theft markers, which are the things that actually cost you money after you’ve bought. Our full check adds all of that for £7.49, using Experian data.

Is a Fiat 124 HPI check worth it?

HPI is one brand of car check. Our check uses the same Experian data covering finance, stolen, write-off and keeper history, plus MOT analysis and known 124 faults that HPI doesn’t include. At £7.49 it’s typically less than half the price of an HPI check.

What does a Fiat 124 fail its MOT on?

The most common MOT failure on the 124 is suspension ball joints worn. 11.7% of 124 models fail overall, based on 4,981 tests. Checking a car’s full MOT history before buying shows you recurring problems the seller might not mention.

More on the 124

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Finance, stolen, write-off and owner history data provided by Experian. MOT data from DVSA. Known problems from GetCarWise analysis. Updated October 2026.