Fiat 500 common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Fiat 500 at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 325,195 UK MOT tests of the Fiat 500 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (an excessively worn bush): recorded on 6.5% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 65× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (a slightly worn bush) (60×); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (9.3×); exhaust system (a minor leak of exhaust gases) (7×). The most common reasons a Fiat 500 fails its MOT are pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Fiat 500
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Fiat 500 than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6.5% | 0.1% | 65× | 9,706 |
| Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush | Advisory | 2016–2018 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6% | 0.1% | 60× | 4,372 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.7% | 0.4% | 9.3× | 38,313 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | Advisory | 2014–2016 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 7% | 1% | 7× | 4,923 |
| Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil | Advisory | 2007–2009 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 7.8% | 1.1% | 7.1× | 2,175 |
| Coil spring: corroded | Advisory | 2014–2016 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6.1% | 1.4% | 4.4× | 17,925 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.8% | 1% | 3.8× | 32,388 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | Advisory | 2016–2018 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 5.7% | 1.3% | 4.4× | 4,372 |
Fiat 500 by mileage (2013–2015 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 5,062 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (12%) | Coil spring: corroded (4.2%, 4.2×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 28,779 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (14%) | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush (4.7%, 16×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 42,366 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush (6.3%, 16×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 25,225 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn (8.1%, 7.4×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 8,426 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (22%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn (8%, 6.2×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 2,101 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23%) | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases (8.4%, 7×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 449 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25%) | Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases (9.1%, 8.3×) |
Fiat 500 by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 148 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.5×) |
| 2008 | 11,418 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (7.1×) |
| 2009 | 19,925 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (10×) |
| 2010 | 20,692 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (11×) |
| 2011 | 20,724 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (13×) |
| 2012 | 28,046 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (13×) |
| 2013 | 35,287 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (13×) |
| 2014 | 40,526 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (16×) |
| 2015 | 36,732 | Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (33×) |
| 2016 | 31,369 | Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (68×) |
| 2017 | 22,706 | Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (64×) |
| 2018 | 23,602 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (10×) |
| 2019 | 21,084 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.9×) |
| 2020 | 12,598 | Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3.1×) |
| 2021 | 313 | Tyres (condition): has ply or cords exposed at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (2.7×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Fiat 500?
In 325,195 UK MOT tests of the Fiat 500 in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is shock absorbers (an excessively worn bush): recorded on 6.5% of tests of 2015–2017 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 65× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: shock absorbers (a slightly worn bush) (60×); pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (9.3×); exhaust system (a minor leak of exhaust gases) (7×). The most common reasons a Fiat 500 fails its MOT are pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements).
Why do Fiat 500s fail the MOT?
Across 325,195 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Fiat 500 were pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (6.2% of tests); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (3.2% of tests); rbt (sp) (efficiency below requirements) (7.8% of tests).
At what mileage do Fiat 500 problems start?
The clearest Fiat 500-specific issue, shock absorbers (an excessively worn bush), peaks against other cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) on 2015–2017 cars (6.5% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Fiat 500 data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 325,195 tests of the Fiat 500. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.