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Abarth 500 seat belts and airbags problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 14,241 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Abarth 500 failed on seat belts and airbags, against 0.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 14,241 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 70 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 13 ages from 3 to 15 years, 102,099 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Airbag (SRS) warning light on, 0.4 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.4 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A seat belts and airbags fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Pull every seat belt out fully and let it retract, check each buckle latches and releases, and make sure the airbag light goes out after start-up.

Abarth 500 seat belts and airbags fails by age

Abarth 500 seat belts and airbags fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Abarth 500. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.00.511.53 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 8,993 MOT tests34 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 11,754 MOT tests5 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 13,129 MOT tests56 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 14,241 MOT tests7 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.4), 13,655 MOT tests78 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 10,664 MOT tests9 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.6), 8,079 MOT tests910 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.7), 5,682 MOT tests11 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.9), 4,231 MOT tests1112 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 1.0), 3,836 MOT tests13 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 3,568 MOT tests1314 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 1.5), 2,579 MOT tests15 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 1.7), 1,688 MOT tests15
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Abarth 500 All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
38,9930.10.3
411,7540.20.3
513,1290.40.3
614,2410.50.4
713,6550.30.4
810,6640.30.5
98,0790.20.6
105,6820.30.7
114,2310.30.9
123,8360.61.0
133,5680.41.2
142,5790.71.5
151,6880.51.7

All first-use years of the Abarth 500 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the seat belts and airbags at 6 years

Fails

  • Airbag (SRS) warning light on: 0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.2. Diagnose and fix airbag (SRS) warning: estimated £39–£317 (0.5–1.5 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £0–£200) Airbag (SRS) warning lamp indicates a fault MOT fail

Diagnose and fix airbag (SRS) warning cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

How to check on a test drive

Pull every seat belt out fully and let it retract, check each buckle latches and releases, and make sure the airbag light goes out after start-up.

Check one Abarth 500, not the average

The figures here describe Abarth 500 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Abarth 500 problems

Seat belts and airbags on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Abarth 500 have more seat belts and airbags problems than other cars?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 14,241 MOT tests).

How common are Abarth 500 seat belts and airbags problems?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on seat belts and airbags, against 0.4 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 14,241 MOT tests).

What is the most common Abarth 500 seat belts and airbags fail?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years: Airbag (SRS) warning light on (58 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 102,099 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare