2015 Abarth 595 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Abarth 595 passed 82.0% of its 9,858 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.5 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
No single area dominates — suspension (8.7%) and lighting & signalling (7.0%) 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 coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 379 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.6% in the 0-30k band and 22.7% in the 90-120k band, a 10.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 23.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.7% | 857 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 693 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.7% | 561 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 325 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.3% | 325 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 248 |
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 | 379 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 324 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 299 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 281 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 254 |
| 6 | Washers | 209 |
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 | 23.9% | 2,360 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.3% | 2,296 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.1% | 1,982 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 474 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 423 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 295 |
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 | 2,270 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 5,508 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,809 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 242 | 22.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,014 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 1,995 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 1,986 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 1,951 | 19.5% |
| 2025 | 1,912 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 2015 595
On a 2015 595, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.7% 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 (7.0% 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 2015 Abarth 595s pass their MOT?
82.0% of the 9,858 2015 Abarth 595 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Abarth 595?
Suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.0%).
Does the 2015 595 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 22.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,858 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.