2012 Abarth 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Abarth 500 passed 77.6% of its 4,762 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.1%) and suspension (10.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, shock absorbers and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 305 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.6% in the 0-30k band and 24.0% in the 120-150k band, a 13.4-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 528 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 515 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 260 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 219 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.2% | 202 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 162 |
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 | 305 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 260 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 205 |
| 4 | Joints | 194 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 180 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 154 |
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 | 34.4% | 1,640 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.7% | 1,320 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.6% | 1,076 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 465 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 295 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 247 |
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 | 282 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,754 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,028 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 573 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 104 | 24.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 981 | 20.2% |
| 2022 | 990 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 929 | 21.6% |
| 2024 | 951 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 911 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.8% 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.
- Tyres (5.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Abarth 500s pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 4,762 2012 Abarth 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Abarth 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by suspension (10.8%).
Does the 2012 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.6% in the 0-30k band to 24.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,762 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.