2014 Abarth 595 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,275 MOT tests, the 2014 Abarth 595 recorded an 81.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (17.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.8%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) 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 washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 166 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2014 595 fails 13.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.0 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 24.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.8% | 255 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 240 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 188 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 156 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.5% | 116 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 80 |
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 | 166 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 131 |
| 3 | Washers | 128 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 88 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 72 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 72 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 24.6% | 806 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.9% | 783 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.5% | 670 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 151 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 138 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 91 |
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 | 745 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,677 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 722 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 104 | 13.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 655 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 671 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 651 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 650 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 648 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a 2014 595
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.7% 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.
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 2014 Abarth 595s pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 3,275 2014 Abarth 595 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Abarth 595?
Suspension, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2014 595 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 13.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,275 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.