2015 Abarth 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,406 MOT tests on the 2015 Abarth 500 are in this dataset, and 81.4% of them passed. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 10.4% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 301 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.7% in the 0-30k band and 19.8% in the 90-120k band, a 8.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.4% | 459 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 312 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.2% | 272 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.9% | 173 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 172 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 104 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 301 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 158 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 143 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 139 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 110 |
| 6 | Washers | 109 |
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 | 28.3% | 1,248 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.1% | 1,061 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 1,042 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 225 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 186 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 184 |
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 | 818 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 2,440 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 999 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 126 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 905 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 862 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 906 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 852 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 881 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 500
On a 2015 500, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.2% 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 2015 Abarth 500s pass their MOT?
81.4% of the 4,406 2015 Abarth 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Abarth 500?
Suspension, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.1%).
Does the 2015 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,406 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.