2018 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 131,817 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Fiat 500, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and suspension. Its pass rate of 88.6% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (90.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.5% in the 120-150k group versus 7.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.2% | 5,533 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.0% | 5,340 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.2% | 4,213 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 4,054 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 3,648 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 780 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 4,377 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,100 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,317 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 2,068 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,982 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 1,541 |
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 | 24.2% | 31,948 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.8% | 20,842 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 12,561 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 8,263 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 3,627 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 3,245 |
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 | 80,424 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 45,809 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 5,142 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 349 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 40 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,980 | 5.6% |
| 2022 | 25,860 | 8.4% |
| 2023 | 26,514 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 26,664 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 27,799 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 500
Before buying a 2018 Fiat 500, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.2% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.2% 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 (4.0% 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.
- Suspension (3.2% 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.
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 2018 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 131,817 2018 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Fiat 500?
Tyres, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by visibility (4.0%).
Does the 2018 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 131,817 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.