2011 · 13 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2011 Fiat 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

18,653 MOT tests in 2024. 58.8% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time58.8%
Failed or needed repairs41.2%
Typical mileage at test70,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 18,653 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.7%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush4.7%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.1%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.0%
  5. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.0%
  6. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.8%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.7%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.5%
  9. Stop lamp: not working2.4%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
    637 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics24.1%
  2. Suspension22.9%
  3. Brakes12.7%
  4. Tyres8.0%
  5. Emissions & leaks6.9%
  6. Body & chassis6.7%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.5%
  8. Steering1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.0%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.1%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.9%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases12.0%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.7%

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: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. 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 Fiat 500?

In 2024, 58.8% of 2011 Fiat 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 18,653 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

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

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2011 Fiat 500 reliable at MOT time?

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