2009 Abarth 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,756 MOT tests, the 2009 Abarth 500 recorded a 76.4% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 2.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.2%) and suspension (11.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 302 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 500 fails 16.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.5% in 2021 to 21.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 578 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.9% | 567 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 323 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 279 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 218 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 190 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 302 |
| 2 | Joints | 280 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 219 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 218 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 183 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 144 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.0% | 1,714 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.5% | 1,260 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 987 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 540 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 360 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.1% | 339 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 218 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 894 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,015 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,250 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 335 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 37 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,011 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 988 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 947 | 24.2% |
| 2024 | 949 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 861 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.8% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Abarth 500s pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 4,756 2009 Abarth 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Abarth 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by suspension (11.9%).
Does the 2009 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,756 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.