MOT fail rates by first-use year
2012 Fiat 500 MOT fail rate and common faults
How Fiat 500 cars first used in 2012 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 119,439 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 13 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 13 years old, Fiat 500 cars first used in 2012 failed 38.8% of MOTs (29,111 tests), about the same as the 38.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 10 to 13 years old, the fail rate moved from 36.2% to 38.8%.
- Fiat 500 cars first used a year earlier, in 2011, failed 40.9% at the same age of 13 years (21,547 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Fiat 500 at 13 years, is suspension arm bush worn, at 4.9 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 2.0).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 years | 36.2% | 30,354 | 30.3% | +5.9 pts |
| 2023 | 11 years | 37.0% | 30,162 | 33.3% | +3.8 pts |
| 2024 | 12 years | 38.7% | 29,812 | 36.0% | +2.7 pts |
| 2025 | 13 years | 38.8% | 29,111 | 38.3% | +0.5 pts |
Most common faults at 13 years
These figures cover all Fiat 500 MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=94,865). 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 arm bush worn | 4.9 | 2.0 |
| Shock absorber leaking | 4.4 | 1.5 |
| Handbrake too weak | 3.9 | 1.7 |
| Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush | 3.9 | 0.2 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| Brake light not working Wear | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 2.9 | 4.8 |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | 2.6 | 1.2 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Wear | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 2.5 | 2.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=94,865). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 17.7 | 18.2 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 14.9 | 5.6 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 12.3 | 9.1 |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | 11.1 | 3.1 |
| Shock absorber misting oil | 9.2 | 4.0 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 9.1 | 10.6 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 7.3 | 8.0 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | 6.2 | 3.8 |
| Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush | 5.4 | 0.5 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=94,865). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 13 years
These figures cover all Fiat 500 MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=94,865). 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 | 97.8% | 40.9% | 92,798 | 37.7% | 70,233 miles |
| Diesel | 2.2% | 45.8% | 2,065 | 39.1% | 85,949 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 13 years
These figures cover all Fiat 500 MOTs at 13 years: cars first used 2009 to 2012, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=94,865). At 13 years, Fiat 500 cars at 120,000 to 150,000 miles failed more often (49.1%, n=3,058) than those at under 30,000 miles (22.1%, n=4,676). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30,000 miles | 22.1% | 4,676 | 18.6% |
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 36.4% | 26,799 | 29.1% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 43.2% | 41,074 | 38.0% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 47.0% | 17,660 | 42.2% |
| 120,000 to 150,000 miles | 49.1% | 3,058 | 43.2% |
Car tax rules for a 2012 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 Fiat 500
Other Fiat models first used in 2012
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat Panda (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 35.7% | 6,184 | 38.3% |
| Fiat Punto (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 43.1% | 5,680 | 38.3% |
| Fiat Ducato (2012) | 13 years in 2025 | 19.6% | 2,627 | 38.3% |
More on the Fiat 500
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2012 Fiat 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.