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Common problems by part

Fiat 500L body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 19,581 MOT tests · Updated

At 9 years, 2.3 in 100 MOT tests of the Fiat 500L failed on body and structure, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 19,581 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), 448 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 9 ages from 4 to 12 years, 85,411 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, 0.9 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

2.3 fails per 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 9 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

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

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Fiat 500L body and structure fails by age

Fiat 500L body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Fiat 500L. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0244 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 1,031 MOT tests45 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 1,748 MOT tests56 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 3,344 MOT tests67 years: 1.2 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 6,173 MOT tests78 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 14,137 MOT tests89 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 19,581 MOT tests910 years: 2.9 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 17,966 MOT tests1011 years: 3.6 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 14,861 MOT tests1112 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 6,570 MOT tests12
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Fiat 500L All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
41,0310.20.3
51,7480.60.5
63,3441.00.8
76,1731.21.3
814,1371.81.8
919,5812.32.3
1017,9662.92.9
1114,8613.63.5
126,5703.74.3

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

What fails in the body and structure at 9 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Fiat 500L, not the average

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

Other Fiat 500L problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Fiat 500L have more body and structure problems than other cars?

2.3 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 19,581 MOT tests).

How common are Fiat 500L body and structure problems?

2.3 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years failed on body and structure, against 2.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 19,581 MOT tests).

What is the most common Fiat 500L body and structure fail?

0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 9 years: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (174 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, 85,411 MOT tests. 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