CarVerify

Aixam 500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Aixam 500 car check

Is the Aixam 500 reliable? We analysed 3,000 real MOT tests across 358 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,000 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.4%
Typical Mileage
26,839mi
Annual Mileage
2,100mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
27yrs

The Aixam 500 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake recording little or no effort, stop lamp not working and steering rack gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Aixam 500.

Aixam 500 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Aixam 500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Aixam 500 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Aixam 500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71.1%
2004
71.6%
2003
75.6%
2002
71.4%
2001
69.6%
2000
71.5%
1999

Aixam 500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Aixam 500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

brake recording little or no effort 182
Stop lamp not working 165
Steering rack gaiter split 144
brake binding 101
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 98
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 90
Headlamp aim too low 83
Headlamp aim too high 67
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 66
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 62

Aixam 500 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Aixam 500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,000 mi/yr
Typical
2,100 mi/yr
Average
3,005 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,865 mi/yr

Aixam 500 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Aixam 500 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 142 71.1% 11,876 18,259 25,177
2003 377 71.6% 14,449 22,651 33,105
2002 353 75.6% 17,265 26,040 39,893
2001 767 71.4% 16,881 27,062 39,147
2000 872 69.6% 19,614 29,856 43,520
1999 463 71.5% 18,394 30,470 44,672

How Long Does a Aixam 500 Last?

Based on 358 Aixam 500 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.4 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
27 years

Aixam 500 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Aixam 500 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
26,839 mi
75th Percentile
40,099 mi
95th Percentile
62,576 mi
Max Recorded
661,828 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Aixam 500

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2002

75.6% MOT pass rate from 353 tests

Year to avoid
2000

69.6% MOT pass rate from 872 tests

The best year to buy a used Aixam 500 is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.6% across 353 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Aixam 500 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Aixam 500 THIS CAR 71.4% 3,000 26,839 mi 27 yrs
Aixam Crossline Super Luxe 72.3% 5,303 20,184 mi 19 yrs
Aixam A751 Super Luxe 71% 3,683 19,500 mi 21 yrs
Aixam Crossline 75.1% 3,121 15,744 mi 19 yrs
Morini 3.5 88.4% 1,629 30,243 mi 51 yrs

Compared to the Aixam Crossline Super Luxe (72.3% pass rate) and the Aixam A751 Super Luxe (71.0% pass rate), the Aixam 500 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Aixam 500?

The Aixam 500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.4% across 3,000 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Aixam 500 are brake recording little or no effort (182 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (165), and steering rack gaiter split (144). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Aixam 500 owner drives around 2,100 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Aixam 500 models stay on UK roads for around 27 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Aixam 500 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Aixam 500 reliable?
Based on 3,000 MOT tests, the Aixam 500 has a 71.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Aixam 500?
The most common MOT failures are brake recording little or no effort, stop lamp not working, and steering rack gaiter split. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Aixam 500 do per year?
The typical Aixam 500 does around 2,100 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Aixam 500 last?
Most Aixam 500 models stay on UK roads for around 27 years based on our analysis of 358 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Aixam 500?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Aixam 500?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Aixam 500 is 2002 with a 75.6% pass rate across 353 tests.