2013 · 11 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2013 Fiat 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

32,468 MOT tests in 2024. 63.7% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time63.7%
Failed or needed repairs36.3%
Typical mileage at test60,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 32,468 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.2%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush3.6%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  4. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak2.6%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
    1,181 marked dangerous
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.2%
    839 marked dangerous
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    907 marked dangerous
  8. Position lamp: not working1.9%
  9. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
  10. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases1.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension21.0%
  2. Lights & electrics17.9%
  3. Brakes9.4%
  4. Tyres7.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.5%
  6. Body & chassis4.4%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.0%
  8. Steering1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.7%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.2%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened11.2%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases10.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn9.5%

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 2013 Fiat 500?

In 2024, 63.7% of 2013 Fiat 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 32,468 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 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; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2013 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).