Fiat 500 Star Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Fiat 500 Star car check
Is the Fiat 500 Star reliable? We analysed 9,163 real MOT tests across 2,078 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Fiat 500 Star? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Fiat 500 Star is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat 500 Star.
Fiat 500 Star Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Fiat 500 Star. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Fiat 500 Star MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Fiat 500 Star to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Fiat 500 Star Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Fiat 500 Star models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Fiat 500 Star Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Fiat 500 Star owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Fiat 500 Star MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat 500 Star year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,754 | 85.4% | 17,045 | 29,684 | 45,411 |
| 2019 | 4,245 | 86.9% | 13,529 | 21,339 | 31,110 |
How Long Does a Fiat 500 Star Last?
Based on 2,078 Fiat 500 Star vehicles on UK roads.
Fiat 500 Star Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Fiat 500 Star 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 Star
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.9% MOT pass rate from 4,245 tests
85.4% MOT pass rate from 4,754 tests
The best year to buy a used Fiat 500 Star is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.9% across 4,245 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.4% — 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 Star Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 Star THIS CAR | 86.1% | 9,163 | 24,766 mi | — yrs |
| Fiat Punto | 68.7% | 6,712,102 | 61,468 mi | 32 yrs |
| Fiat 500 | 76.9% | 3,854,072 | 42,469 mi | 18 yrs |
| Fiat Ducato | 75% | 1,962,737 | 48,690 mi | 38 yrs |
| Kia Sportage 2 CRDI Isg MHEV S-a | 87.2% | 9,057 | 32,708 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat 500 Star outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Fiat 500 Star 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 500 StarShould you buy a used Fiat 500 Star?
The Fiat 500 Star has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.1% across 9,163 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
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 Star 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 Star owner drives around 5,088 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.
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.