Fiat 500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Fiat 500 car check
Is the Fiat 500 reliable? We analysed 3,854,072 real MOT tests across 331,691 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Fiat 500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Fiat 500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat 500.
Fiat 500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Fiat 500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Fiat 500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Fiat 500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Fiat 500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Fiat 500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Fiat 500 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Fiat 500 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Fiat 500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Fiat 500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Fiat 500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat 500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 212 | 84.4% | 12,245 | 21,158 | 31,829 |
| 2020 | 16,466 | 88.4% | 12,721 | 21,186 | 32,705 |
| 2019 | 96,272 | 86.9% | 14,502 | 22,817 | 33,472 |
| 2018 | 147,724 | 85.4% | 16,911 | 26,274 | 38,258 |
| 2017 | 178,907 | 84.0% | 19,813 | 30,239 | 43,430 |
| 2016 | 283,554 | 81.1% | 21,432 | 32,715 | 47,049 |
| 2015 | 392,017 | 78.6% | 24,337 | 36,860 | 52,412 |
| 2014 | 467,282 | 78.0% | 27,210 | 40,995 | 57,660 |
| 2013 | 441,010 | 77.6% | 28,846 | 43,905 | 61,572 |
| 2012 | 411,482 | 75.5% | 30,691 | 46,837 | 65,333 |
| 2011 | 323,783 | 74.2% | 31,734 | 49,249 | 69,314 |
| 2010 | 383,594 | 73.2% | 32,441 | 51,521 | 73,508 |
| 2009 | 406,099 | 72.3% | 34,758 | 55,298 | 78,398 |
| 2008 | 271,081 | 71.7% | 35,987 | 57,692 | 81,565 |
| 2007 | 4,063 | 71.3% | 38,992 | 60,956 | 81,376 |
| 2006 | 147 | 75.5% | 45,306 | 67,361 | 84,702 |
| 2005 | 201 | 77.1% | 22,082 | 40,640 | 79,856 |
| 2004 | 138 | 72.5% | 21,668 | 48,989 | 68,332 |
| 2003 | 179 | 69.8% | 22,805 | 45,307 | 73,879 |
| 2002 | 135 | 76.3% | 8,260 | 44,046 | 66,996 |
How Long Does a Fiat 500 Last?
Based on 331,691 Fiat 500 vehicles on UK roads.
Fiat 500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Fiat 500 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat 500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.4% MOT pass rate from 16,466 tests
65.7% MOT pass rate from 137 tests
The best year to buy a used Fiat 500 is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.4% across 16,466 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Fiat 500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 THIS CAR | 76.9% | 3,854,072 | 42,469 mi | 18 yrs |
| Fiat Punto | 68.7% | 6,712,102 | 61,468 mi | 32 yrs |
| Fiat Ducato | 75% | 1,962,737 | 48,690 mi | 38 yrs |
| Fiat Panda | 74.8% | 1,821,354 | 45,513 mi | 22 yrs |
| Citroen Berlingo | 70.1% | 4,453,235 | 83,738 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat Ducato (75.0% pass rate), the Fiat 500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Fiat 500 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Fiat 500Should you buy a used Fiat 500?
The Fiat 500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% across 3,854,072 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Fiat 500 are shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (26,240 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (24,621), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (21,463). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Fiat 500 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Fiat 500 owner drives around 4,394 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 Fiat 500 models stay on UK roads for around 18 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.