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Fiat 500 reliability by build year

Coverage 2008-20231 named generationcity carHatchbackPETROL / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

Fiat 500 built around 2018: about average at the MOT

Fiat 500 models built around 2018 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Check a Fiat 500 by number plate

Key figure

20% of MOT tests on Fiat 500 models built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 18% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Fiat 500 models built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Fiat 500's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Shock absorbers

Worth checking

Bounce-test each corner; check for oily streaks down the strut bodies.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your 500's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

500 Mk1 (312)

Mk1 (312) (2008-2023)

Too close to call between ratings
PETROLHYBRID ELECTRICDIESEL

19.7% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 28,377 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Pre

Older models (before 2005)

PETROL

19.3% fail rate, built before 2000 (over 25 years old)

Likely between 13.0% and 27.7%

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 25.2%)

From 109 MOT tests at this ageLimited data

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Fiat 500.

See every build year for the Fiat 500

Side-by-side

Fiat 500 generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Mk1 (312) (2008-2023)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings19.7%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 28,377 MOT tests at this age
Older models (before 2005)
No rating
No rating19.3%likely between 13.0% and 27.7%built before 2000 (over 25 years old)from 109 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the 500, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Fiat 500 fail rate by age

This chart combines every Fiat 500 ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
15,4129.5%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
15,03611.8%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
18,57614.6%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
27,67217.7%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
28,37719.7%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
33,93722.3%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
44,42125.4%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
54,03726.9%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
51,76227.2%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
41,89527.7%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
32,65129.2%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
26,90630.6%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
30,11031.8%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
18,94932.3%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
7,46732.5%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
10919.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 17 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Fiat 500 stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Fiat models

4th of 8

4th lowest fail rate of 8 Fiat models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against other hatchbacks

64th of 84

64th lowest fail rate of 84 hatchbacks with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against the UK average

19.7%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Fiat 500 models

These issues come from 7-year-old Fiat 500 models, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    18.8%
    Advisory: 7,516Fail: 540 (7% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    16.1%
    Advisory: 6,202Fail: 1,008 (14% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    15.4%
    Advisory: 4,695Fail: 2,000 (30% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    13.3%
    Advisory: 4,796Fail: 76 (2% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

    6.5%
    Advisory: 1,803Fail: 333 (16% of the times it was found)

Based on 28,377 MOT tests on 7-year-old Fiat 500 models, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Fiat 500 models notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Suspension + Tyres34%
  2. Brakes + Tyres30%
  3. Brakes + Suspension25%
  4. Emissions & exhaust + Tyres11%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 10,070 MOT tests on Fiat 500 cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

96%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

23 recalls in all

20 of the 23 Fiat 500 recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 2 Critical
  • 18 more

Top concerns

  • Fuel may leak leading in extreme cases to fire
  • The wrong airbag may deploy in a collision
  • Incorrect information on the registration document and CoC (certificate of conformity)

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Volkswagen up!

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    14.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.7%

    Lower fail rate: 14.2%, against 19.7% for the Fiat 500, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    15,657 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Suzuki Celerio

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.5%
    Dangerous
    2.4%
    Still registered at 10 years
    93.5%

    Lower fail rate: 13.9%, against 19.7% for the Fiat 500, both built around 2018.

    5,662 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Toyota Aygo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.2%
    Dangerous
    4.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96%

    Lower fail rate: 13.0%, against 19.7% for the Fiat 500, both built around 2018.

    25,028 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Skoda Citigo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.6%
    Dangerous
    3.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.2%

    Lower fail rate: 15.3%, against 19.7% for the Fiat 500, both built around 2018.

    6,553 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Fiat 500 across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. It has the 4th lowest fail rate of 8 Fiat models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 28,377 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Fiat 500 ever sold: 447,317 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 28,377 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.