Fiat 500 MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Fiat 500 passed 68.7% of its first MOT tests, from 307,724 tests in Great Britain. That is 2.7 points below the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Fiat 500 MOT failures
The area that failed most often was suspension, affecting 13.8% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Suspension 13.8% vs 8.9%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 10.0% vs 11.3%
- Brakes 6.8% vs 6.8%
- Tyres 6.4% vs 6.3%
- Visibility 5.2% vs 4.8%
- Body, chassis, structure 3.3% vs 3.4%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 2.6% vs 3.1%
- Steering 0.5% vs 1.8%
- Shock absorbers 5.5% vs 1.1%
- Pins and bushes 5.4% vs 1.4%
- Tyres: condition 4.1% vs 3.7%
- Headlamp aim 3.3% vs 3.3%
- Washers 2.8% vs 2.5%
- Wipers 2.4% vs 2.2%
- Headlamp 2.4% vs 2.2%
- Tread depth 2.4% vs 2.6%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Pins and bushes: Pin or bush excessively worn | 4.8% |
| Shock absorbers: Has an excessively worn bush | 3.1% |
| Shock absorbers: Has a serious fluid leak | 2.5% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 2.4% |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 2.3% |
| Washers: Provides insufficient washer liquid | 2.1% |
| Ball joint excessively worn | 2.0% |
| Rbt (sp): Efficiency below requirements | 1.8% |
| Brake pads: Less than 1.5 mm thick | 1.8% |
| Position lamp: Not working | 1.7% |
Fiat 500 pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 85.3% for cars aged 3 to 5 years and 55.6% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 3 to 5 years 85.3% vs 71.4%
- 6 to 9 years 71.1% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 60.9% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 55.6% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 303,324 | 68.9% |
| Diesel | 4,383 | 57.1% |
Most common Fiat 500 advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 18.8%
- Tyres: condition 12.5%
- Brake discs 11.4%
- Shock absorbers 11.2%
- Pins and bushes 8.4%
- Coil spring 7.5%
- Exhaust system 7.3%
- Brake pads 5.1%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Fiat models
Similar popular models
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Fiat 500?
In 2023, 68.7% of Fiat 500 MOT tests were passed first time, from 307,724 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Fiat 500?
The most common failure area was suspension, which caused 13.8% of tests to fail. Next came lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (10.0%) and brakes (6.8%).
Is the Fiat 500 reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 68.7% is 2.7 points below the average and ranks 63 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Fiat 500's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.