2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Fiat 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

18,990 MOT tests in 2024. 54.6% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time54.6%
Failed or needed repairs45.4%
Typical mileage at test80,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 18,990 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements7.3%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak5.8%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.0%
  4. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side4.3%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.2%
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.1%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.1%
  8. Service brake imbalance: across an axle2.7%
  9. Position lamp: not working2.6%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    702 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension30.6%
  2. Brakes29.4%
  3. Lights & electrics24.8%
  4. Tyres8.0%
  5. Body & chassis7.5%
  6. Emissions & leaks6.9%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.5%
  8. Steering1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened19.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure13.9%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases12.7%
  5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak10.4%

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.

← 2008 500All 500 years2010 500 →

Questions

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

In 2024, 54.6% of 2009 Fiat 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 18,990 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

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

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 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).