MOT fail rates by first-use year
2016 Abarth 500 MOT fail rate and common faults
How Abarth 500 cars first used in 2016 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 13,405 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 9 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 9 years old, Abarth 500 cars first used in 2016 failed 24.1% of MOTs (3,272 tests), 3.0 points below the 27.1% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 6 to 9 years old, the fail rate moved from 20.8% to 24.1%.
- Abarth 500 cars first used a year earlier, in 2015, failed 27.2% at the same age of 9 years (2,371 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Abarth 500 at 9 years, is suspension ball joint worn, at 2.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.5).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 years | 20.8% | 3,438 | 17.8% | +3.0 pts |
| 2023 | 7 years | 22.8% | 3,368 | 20.6% | +2.2 pts |
| 2024 | 8 years | 25.0% | 3,327 | 23.8% | +1.2 pts |
| 2025 | 9 years | 24.1% | 3,272 | 27.1% | −3.0 pts |
Most common faults at 9 years
These figures cover all Abarth 500 MOTs at 9 years: cars first used 2013 to 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=8,079). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension ball joint worn | 2.4 | 1.5 |
| Coil spring broken | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| Suspension arm bush worn | 2.0 | 1.1 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | 1.9 | 0.1 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Wear | 1.6 | 1.3 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Wear | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 1.3 | 2.0 |
| Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn | 1.3 | 0.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=8,079). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 16.7 | 9.2 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 14.6 | 16.4 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 8.7 | 4.9 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 7.1 | 3.1 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 6.4 | 8.3 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 5.8 | 8.5 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 4.5 | 2.0 |
| Macpherson strut pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 4.1 | 0.3 |
| Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush | 3.5 | 0.3 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 3.2 | 2.7 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=8,079). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 9 years
These figures cover all Abarth 500 MOTs at 9 years: cars first used 2013 to 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=8,079). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 100.0% | 26.7% | 8,079 | 26.3% | 49,710 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 9 years
These figures cover all Abarth 500 MOTs at 9 years: cars first used 2013 to 2016, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=8,079). At 9 years, Abarth 500 cars at 60,000 to 90,000 miles failed more often (31.3%, n=2,204) than those at under 30,000 miles (16.8%, n=1,237). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 16.8% | 1,237 | 14.3% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 26.6% | 4,278 | 23.0% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 31.3% | 2,204 | 29.4% |
Car tax rules for a 2016 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Abarth 500
More on the Abarth 500
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2016 Abarth 500 cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.