2013 Fiat 500 L — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,125 MOT tests analysed for the 2013 Fiat 500 L, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 76.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (81.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.3% in the 150k+ group versus 12.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.3% | 1,616 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 1,192 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 901 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 759 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 453 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 294 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 885 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 734 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 503 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 429 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 405 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 390 |
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 | 28.8% | 3,776 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.6% | 3,234 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.0% | 1,975 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.0% | 1,442 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 681 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 439 |
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 | 301 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 3,882 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,736 | 24.3% |
| 90-120k | 2,632 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 483 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 77 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,857 | 23.8% |
| Petrol | 3,268 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,634 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 2,614 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 2,687 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 2,675 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 2,515 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 500 L
Before buying a 2013 Fiat 500 L, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 12.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (12.3% 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 (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 2013 Fiat 500 Ls pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 13,125 2013 Fiat 500 L MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Fiat 500 L?
Suspension, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.1%).
Does the 2013 500 L get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,125 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.