Fiat Cinquecento Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Fiat Cinquecento car check
Is the Fiat Cinquecento reliable? We analysed 197,390 real MOT tests across 33,116 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Fiat Cinquecento? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Fiat Cinquecento is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Fiat Cinquecento.
Fiat Cinquecento Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Fiat Cinquecento. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Fiat Cinquecento MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Fiat Cinquecento to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Fiat Cinquecento Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Fiat Cinquecento fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Fiat Cinquecento Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Fiat Cinquecento owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Fiat Cinquecento MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Fiat Cinquecento year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 540 | 69.6% | 29,450 | 45,568 | 66,330 |
| 2002 | 369 | 70.7% | 25,354 | 41,552 | 60,294 |
| 2001 | 219 | 68.0% | 32,472 | 46,662 | 60,980 |
| 2000 | 112 | 62.5% | 37,396 | 50,504 | 70,611 |
| 1999 | 174 | 63.2% | 52,395 | 66,486 | 81,447 |
| 1998 | 16,446 | 63.5% | 43,185 | 57,973 | 73,827 |
| 1997 | 45,284 | 62.4% | 44,204 | 59,414 | 75,180 |
| 1996 | 48,294 | 61.7% | 47,000 | 61,907 | 77,865 |
| 1995 | 40,377 | 62.0% | 49,862 | 64,422 | 79,902 |
| 1994 | 29,471 | 63.5% | 47,919 | 63,804 | 79,840 |
| 1993 | 15,922 | 64.1% | 47,050 | 64,052 | 80,650 |
How Long Does a Fiat Cinquecento Last?
Based on 33,116 Fiat Cinquecento vehicles on UK roads.
Fiat Cinquecento Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Fiat Cinquecento 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 Cinquecento
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
70.7% MOT pass rate from 369 tests
61.7% MOT pass rate from 48,294 tests
The best year to buy a used Fiat Cinquecento is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.7% across 369 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Fiat Cinquecento Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat Cinquecento THIS CAR | 62.6% | 197,390 | 61,879 mi | 33 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 |
| Ford Sierra | 69.3% | 235,897 | 50,133 mi | 43 yrs |
Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Cinquecento trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Fiat Cinquecento 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 CinquecentoShould you buy a used Fiat Cinquecento?
The Fiat Cinquecento has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.6% across 197,390 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Fiat Cinquecento are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (23,095 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (14,321), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (11,533). 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 Fiat Cinquecento owner drives around 3,093 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 Cinquecento models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.