2011 · 13 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2011 Abarth 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

785 MOT tests in 2024. 64.1% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time64.1%
Failed or needed repairs35.9%
Typical mileage at test72,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 785 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.8%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.2%
  3. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.9%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  5. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush2.2%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.0%
    23 marked dangerous
  7. Headlamp aim: too low1.9%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.9%
  9. Stop lamp: not working1.7%
  10. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics19.9%
  2. Suspension18.6%
  3. Brakes9.8%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.5%
  5. Body & chassis6.8%
  6. Tyres6.2%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.9%
  8. Steering2.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened19.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.5%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened10.7%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2011 Abarth 500?

In 2024, 64.1% of 2011 Abarth 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 785 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Abarth 500?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2011 Abarth 500 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).