2012 Fiat 500 C — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,736 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Fiat 500 C, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 75.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (79.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.9% in the 120-150k group versus 16.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 636 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 454 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 276 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.7% | 268 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 230 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 194 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 434 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 305 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 188 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 154 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 127 |
| 6 | Wipers | 120 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.9% | 1,698 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.6% | 1,306 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.5% | 877 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 577 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.1% | 383 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 376 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 358 | 16.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,907 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,831 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 558 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 32.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 981 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 948 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 946 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 945 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 916 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 500 C
Before buying a 2012 Fiat 500 C, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Fiat 500 Cs pass their MOT?
75.3% of the 4,736 2012 Fiat 500 C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Fiat 500 C?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2012 500 C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 0-30k band to 32.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,736 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.