Comparison · small hatchbacks

Ford Fiesta vs Fiat 500: which is more reliable?

The Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500 are very close at the MOT: scores of 94 and 95. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 1,685,686 real MOT tests in 2024.

Ford Fiesta

94Below average
MOT tests1,360,577

Fiat 500

95Below average
MOT tests325,109

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at testFord FiestaFiat 500
3–5 years
100About average
100About average
6–9 years
94Below average
93Below average
10–14 years
93Below average
94Below average
15+ years
94Below average
94Below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearFord FiestaFiat 500
202186.6%88.6%
202086.7%87.4%
201985.8%84.2%
201884.1%79.9%
201776.4%76.0%
201668.7%71.0%
201567.3%65.8%
201464.7%64.5%
201361.9%63.7%
201258.8%61.0%
201158.1%58.8%
201055.4%56.9%
200954.0%54.6%
200853.8%54.2%
200754.2%56.8%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaFord FiestaFiat 500
Lights & electrics22.113.2
Suspension15.318.4
Brakes7.710.1
Tyres9.07.5
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.25.1
Emissions & leaks5.23.6
Body & chassis3.93.7
Steering3.90.7

Ford Fiesta: top failures

  1. Stop lamp: not working5.8%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.5%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  5. Coil spring: fractured or broken1.8%
  6. Position lamp: not working1.8%

Fiat 500: top failures

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush2.8%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.5%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Fiesta or the Fiat 500?

The Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500 are very close at the MOT: scores of 94 and 95. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500 can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Ford Fiesta had the higher pass rate in 5 of them and the Fiat 500 in 10.

What fails most on each?

Ford Fiesta: stop lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Fiat 500: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush.