In 2025, 298,657 Fiat 500 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 66% passed first time, compared with 70% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 500 worse than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 182 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 5 years old, 85% of 500s passed first time (all cars that age: 86%). By 17 years, that figure is 55% (all cars: 57%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 10 years (8 points behind).
Fiat 500 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 500 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 4,140 | 85% | 86% | 27,809 |
| 6 years | 18,975 | 80% | 84% | 31,703 |
| 7 years | 23,589 | 77% | 81% | 37,529 |
| 8 years | 22,576 | 74% | 78% | 44,052 |
| 9 years | 31,193 | 69% | 75% | 48,620 |
| 10 years | 36,676 | 64% | 72% | 54,967 |
| 11 years | 38,182 | 64% | 69% | 61,346 |
| 12 years | 31,979 | 63% | 66% | 65,853 |
| 13 years | 26,060 | 61% | 63% | 70,489 |
| 14 years | 18,108 | 58% | 61% | 74,787 |
| 15 years | 19,071 | 57% | 59% | 78,845 |
| 16 years | 17,943 | 55% | 58% | 83,817 |
| 17 years | 9,948 | 55% | 57% | 87,883 |
What fails most on a Fiat 500
The area that lets the 500 down most, relative to other cars, is suspension: 24.5% of tests failed on it, 1.8 times the rate for the average car. It does comparatively well on steering.
Share of 500 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 11.0% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.0% |
| A shock absorber bush excessively worn | Suspension | 4.2% |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | Suspension | 3.4% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 3.1% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.0% |
What to check when buying a used 500
Based on where the 500 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
- Brakes: Look through the wheels for lipped or scored discs, check the handbrake holds on a slope, and feel for pulling or vibration under firm braking. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 500
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 500Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Fiat 500?
In 2025, 66% of Fiat 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 298,657 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 70%.
What do Fiat 500 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (11.0% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.0% of tests); a shock absorber bush excessively worn (4.2% of tests).
Other Fiat models
Fiat Panda (64%), Fiat Ducato (73%), Fiat Punto (55%), Fiat Doblo (63%), Fiat 500X (72%). All Fiat models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.