Italian soul, Japanese bones, open-top thrills
Built on Mazda MX-5 underpinnings in Hiroshima, the modern Fiat 124 Spider offered Italian turbo charm with Japanese reliability in a market dominated by the MX-5 itself. Only around 3,000 were sold in the UK before Fiat withdrew the model in early 2019, making it a rare and undervalued alternative to the ubiquitous Mazda. Used prices sit below equivalent MX-5s, offering strong value for a characterful roadster.
We track 5 known issues across the Fiat 124 range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Fiat 124? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
124 (2016–2019) — Engine options included the 1.4 MultiAir Turbo. Our database flags 5 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Front coil spring failure (£150–£250 to address).
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.
A fractured coil spring can cause complete loss of suspension control on one corner, leading to dangerous handling characteristics and potential loss of vehicle control. The sharp edges of broken spring steel can damage tyres, brake lines, or other components. This is a safety-critical defect requiring immediate repair.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
Worn suspension components compromise handling safety and cause rapid tyre wear. Complete failure of a ball joint or track rod end while driving can cause loss of steering control. Typical repair involves replacing multiple components simultaneously, with labour costs inflated by the need for wheel alignment.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
Warped discs reduce braking efficiency and can cause dangerous loss of control under emergency braking. The vibration damages wheel bearings and suspension components over time. Disc replacement is typically required rather than skimming due to the thin disc design.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
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.
A failed wheel bearing can cause wheel separation and complete loss of vehicle control. Advanced wear creates excessive heat that can damage the brake disc and caliper. The noise and vibration worsen rapidly once play develops in the bearing.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
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.
Binding brakes cause rapid pad and disc wear, fuel consumption increases, and risk brake fade under heavy use. Complete caliper seizure can cause wheel lockup and loss of control. The overheated brake components require replacement rather than just freeing the caliper.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Fiat 124 common problems page.
Based on 15k real DVSA MOT tests, the Fiat 124 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is suspension ball joints worn at 86x the fleet average, followed by suspension pin, bush or joint worn (23x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Fiat 124 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 9k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
See the full Fiat 124 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Fiat 124 has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. Late 2018 and 2019 final-edition cars had most niggles resolved and came with the best specification. The 2017 model year has the most reported issues including fuel system and spark plug problems. The Abarth 124 Spider adds a mechanical LSD and extra power but commands a premium.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Fiat 124, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Fiat 124 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.