2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Fiat 500 C MOT pass rate and common faults

389 MOT tests in 2024. 55.3% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time55.3%
Failed or needed repairs44.7%
Typical mileage at test73,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 389 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements7.5%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak6.4%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.2%
  4. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush3.3%
  5. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side2.8%
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.8%
  7. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.8%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.6%
  9. Service brake imbalance: across an axle2.6%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension31.1%
  2. Lights & electrics29.3%
  3. Brakes26.0%
  4. Tyres9.0%
  5. Body & chassis7.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.6%
  8. Steering0.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.3%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure16.5%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.9%
  4. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak11.8%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All 500 C years2010 500 C →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Fiat 500 C?

In 2024, 55.3% of 2009 Fiat 500 C cars passed their MOT first time, across 389 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Fiat 500 C?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 Fiat 500 C reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).