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Fiat Cinquecento Sportin Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Fiat Cinquecento Sportin car check

Is the Fiat Cinquecento Sportin reliable? We analysed 919 real MOT tests across 174 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 919 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
58.1%
Typical Mileage
67,099mi
Annual Mileage
4,821mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Fiat Cinquecento Sportin 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 Sportin.

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin Number Plates

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

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

62%
1998
58.5%
1997
56.8%
1996
56.8%
1995

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 116
parking brake recording little or no effort 93
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 84
Headlamp aim too low 83
Direction indicator incorrect colour 81
brake recording little or no effort 65
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 59
wheel bearing rough when rotated 54
Stop lamp not working 52
position lamp(s) not working 45

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,803 mi/yr
Typical
4,821 mi/yr
Average
6,043 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,394 mi/yr

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 142 62.0% 47,409 58,351 73,007
1997 265 58.5% 53,604 64,376 77,520
1996 329 56.8% 57,631 71,515 84,044
1995 183 56.8% 62,147 71,612 87,267

How Long Does a Fiat Cinquecento Sportin Last?

Based on 174 Fiat Cinquecento Sportin vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.3 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin Mileage Distribution

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

Median
67,099 mi
75th Percentile
81,050 mi
95th Percentile
107,231 mi
Max Recorded
412,456 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Fiat Cinquecento Sportin

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

Best year
1998

62.0% MOT pass rate from 142 tests

Year to avoid
1995

56.8% MOT pass rate from 183 tests

The best year to buy a used Fiat Cinquecento Sportin is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 62.0% across 142 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 56.8% — 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 Sportin Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Fiat Cinquecento Sportin THIS CAR 58.1% 919 67,099 mi 31 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
Land Rover Freelander TD4 S S/w 71.6% 570 139,321 mi — yrs

Compared to the Fiat Punto (68.7% pass rate) and the Fiat 500 (76.9% pass rate), the Fiat Cinquecento Sportin trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Fiat Cinquecento Sportin?

The Fiat Cinquecento Sportin has an overall MOT pass rate of 58.1% across 919 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Fiat Cinquecento Sportin are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (116 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (93), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (84). 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 Sportin owner drives around 4,821 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 Sportin models stay on UK roads for around 31 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.

Fiat Cinquecento Sportin — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fiat Cinquecento Sportin reliable?
Based on 919 MOT tests, the Fiat Cinquecento Sportin has a 58.1% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Fiat Cinquecento Sportin?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Fiat Cinquecento Sportin do per year?
The typical Fiat Cinquecento Sportin does around 4,821 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Fiat Cinquecento Sportin last?
Most Fiat Cinquecento Sportin models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 174 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Fiat Cinquecento Sportin?
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 Fiat Cinquecento Sportin?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Fiat Cinquecento Sportin is 1998 with a 62.0% pass rate across 142 tests.