2021 Fiat 500 Dolcevita + Mhev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,332 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Fiat 500 Dolcevita + Mhev, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.9% in the 60-90k group versus 5.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.3% | 499 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.7% | 250 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 221 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.5% | 46 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 41 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 181 |
| 2 | Washers | 153 |
| 3 | Wipers | 139 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 111 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 56 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 32 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.0% | 2,052 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.0% | 470 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.6% | 340 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 207 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 158 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 36 |
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 | 7,575 | 5.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,673 | 12.6% |
| 60-90k | 74 | 18.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,148 | 7.1% |
| Hybrid | 184 | 6.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 51 | 2.0% |
| 2024 | 4,514 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 4,760 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2021 500 Dolcevita + Mhev
Before buying a 2021 Fiat 500 Dolcevita + Mhev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.3% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Lighting & signalling (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2021 Fiat 500 Dolcevita + Mhevs pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 9,332 2021 Fiat 500 Dolcevita + Mhev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat 500 Dolcevita + Mhev?
Tyres, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by visibility (2.7%).
Does the 2021 500 Dolcevita + Mhev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.8% in the 0-30k band to 18.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,332 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.