2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Abarth 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

678 MOT tests in 2024. 66.5% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time66.5%
Failed or needed repairs33.5%
Typical mileage at test69,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 678 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.8%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush3.5%
  3. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.4%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.2%
  6. Headlamp aim: too low2.2%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.1%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    22 marked dangerous
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.1%
    19 marked dangerous
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics22.4%
  2. Suspension16.4%
  3. Body & chassis8.4%
  4. Brakes7.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks7.2%
  6. Tyres6.6%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.3%
  8. Steering1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened20.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.9%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened13.6%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.4%

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.

← 2011 500All 500 years2013 500 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Abarth 500?

In 2024, 66.5% of 2012 Abarth 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 678 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Abarth 500?

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

Is the 2012 Abarth 500 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).