2016 Abarth 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 378 MOT tests, the 2016 Abarth 500 recorded an 83.3% pass rate. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 13.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.6%) and suspension (6.3%) 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 tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 12 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 25 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.3% | 24 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 22 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 16 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.2% | 12 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 6 |
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 | 12 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 12 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 4 | Washers | 11 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 10 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.4% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.6% | 74 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.1% | 57 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.6% | 21 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 12 |
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 | 163 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 184 | 20.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 17.1% |
| 2022 | 76 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 68 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 73 | 17.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 (5.8% 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 2016 Abarth 500s pass their MOT?
83.3% of the 378 2016 Abarth 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Abarth 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by suspension (6.3%).
Does the 2016 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 20.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 378 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.