2020 Fiat 500 Star — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,009 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Fiat 500 Star, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 88.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.4% in the 60-90k group versus 8.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 188 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 142 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 131 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.5% | 102 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.4% | 97 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 106 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 3 | Washers | 60 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 57 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 55 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 34 |
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 | 22.2% | 891 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.8% | 672 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 376 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.2% | 167 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 107 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 2.4% | 95 |
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 | 2,150 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,656 | 14.2% |
| 60-90k | 202 | 14.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 50 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 1,279 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 1,436 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 1,240 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2020 500 Star
Before buying a 2020 Fiat 500 Star, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (3.3% 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.
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 2020 Fiat 500 Stars pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 4,009 2020 Fiat 500 Star MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Fiat 500 Star?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 2020 500 Star get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,009 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.