Abarth 595 Esseesse MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 4 model years and 869 tests, the Abarth 595 Esseesse passes its MOT 90.0% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 9.5%, so the 595 Esseesse sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are tyres, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and emissions & environmental (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 20 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 595 Esseesse model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 383 | 87.7% | 12.3% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 220 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2021 | 265 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 41 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.2% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 19 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 13 |
| 7 | Other defects | 1.1% | 10 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 20 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 17 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 16 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 6 | Washers | 10 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 9 |
| 8 | Wheel bearings | 7 |
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 | 17.5% | 152 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 97 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 58 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.2% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 16 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 8 |
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 | 675 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 185 | 16.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 103 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 177 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 292 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 297 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a Abarth 595 Esseesse
- Tyres (4.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (2.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Abarth 595 Esseesse?
90.0% of the 869 Abarth 595 Esseesse MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.0% fail rate, across model years 2019–2022.
What does the Abarth 595 Esseesse most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, then emissions & environmental (2.5%).
Methodology & source. Based on 869 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.