Fiat 500L Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Fiat 500L car check
Is the Fiat 500L reliable? We analysed 209,749 real MOT tests across 19,278 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Fiat 500L? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Fiat 500L is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat 500L.
Fiat 500L Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Fiat 500L. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Fiat 500L MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Fiat 500L to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Fiat 500L Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Fiat 500L fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Fiat 500L Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Fiat 500L models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Fiat 500L Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Fiat 500L owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Fiat 500L MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat 500L year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 269 | 80.7% | 12,273 | 18,573 | 27,082 |
| 2020 | 273 | 83.9% | 14,075 | 21,445 | 31,058 |
| 2019 | 907 | 81.6% | 16,858 | 26,039 | 38,813 |
| 2018 | 4,124 | 79.4% | 18,735 | 29,350 | 44,001 |
| 2017 | 7,355 | 78.8% | 22,433 | 34,790 | 51,694 |
| 2016 | 15,197 | 79.2% | 24,838 | 38,460 | 56,423 |
| 2015 | 32,196 | 77.9% | 29,381 | 44,674 | 63,998 |
| 2014 | 85,386 | 76.4% | 36,709 | 54,212 | 74,981 |
| 2013 | 58,292 | 76.2% | 37,072 | 54,867 | 76,141 |
| 2012 | 96 | 75.0% | 26,402 | 43,118 | 80,295 |
| 2011 | 68 | 73.5% | 28,777 | 74,348 | 79,716 |
| 2009 | 51 | 66.7% | 1,200 | 29,952 | 51,053 |
| 2008 | 58 | 72.4% | 6,540 | 19,116 | 66,948 |
| 2007 | 90 | 74.4% | 35,866 | 52,986 | 81,274 |
| 2006 | 110 | 82.7% | 27,158 | 38,355 | 60,474 |
| 2004 | 78 | 67.9% | 20,352 | 45,495 | 89,536 |
| 2003 | 61 | 75.4% | 47,781 | 76,837 | 90,201 |
| 2002 | 139 | 72.7% | 15,930 | 27,292 | 55,276 |
| 2001 | 87 | 86.2% | 43,802 | 51,356 | 67,452 |
| 2000 | 60 | 75.0% | 24,633 | 35,822 | 93,795 |
How Long Does a Fiat 500L Last?
Based on 19,278 Fiat 500L vehicles on UK roads.
Fiat 500L Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Fiat 500L 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 500L
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.2% MOT pass rate from 87 tests
66.7% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
The best year to buy a used Fiat 500L is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 87 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Fiat 500L Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500L THIS CAR | 76.9% | 209,749 | 50,176 mi | 13 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 |
| BMW 728 | 71.8% | 84,739 | 113,360 mi | 30 yrs |
Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat 500L sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Fiat 500L 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 500LShould you buy a used Fiat 500L?
The Fiat 500L has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% across 209,749 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively with 1,767 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
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 500L 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 500L owner drives around 5,764 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 500L models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. 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.