2013 Abarth 595 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,057 MOT tests, the 2013 Abarth 595 recorded a 78.1% pass rate. Against city cars of a similar age (19.1% fail rate), the 2013 595 comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.1%) and lighting & signalling (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 214 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.9% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.1% | 308 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 294 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 158 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 129 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 119 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 100 |
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 | 214 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 141 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 134 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 123 |
| 5 | Washers | 115 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 75 |
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 | 26.2% | 800 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.5% | 780 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.6% | 660 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 205 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.7% | 142 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 123 |
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 | 425 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,515 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 889 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 183 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 609 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 633 | 22.3% |
| 2023 | 596 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 605 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 614 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 595
On a 2013 595, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (10.1% 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 (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 2013 Abarth 595s pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 3,057 2013 Abarth 595 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Abarth 595?
Suspension, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.6%).
Does the 2013 595 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,057 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.