2021 Fiat 500 Star Mhev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,326 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Fiat 500 Star Mhev, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.2% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 145 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 60 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 24 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 44 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 24 |
| 3 | Washers | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 11 |
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 | 23.1% | 537 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 143 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.4% | 79 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 72 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.9% | 45 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 42 |
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 | 1,672 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 637 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,282 | 8.8% |
| Hybrid | 44 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 47 | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 1,138 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 1,140 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2021 500 Star Mhev
Before buying a 2021 Fiat 500 Star Mhev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 (2.6% 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 (2.5% 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 Star Mhevs pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 2,326 2021 Fiat 500 Star Mhev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Fiat 500 Star Mhev?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2021 500 Star Mhev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 11.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,326 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.