2016 Abarth 595 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Abarth 595 passed 84.0% of its 17,368 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (13.6% fail rate), the 2016 595 comes out 2.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.1%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 681 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.3% versus 11.1%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.1% | 1,233 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 923 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 912 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 619 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.4% | 591 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 312 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 681 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 482 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 456 |
| 4 | Wipers | 385 |
| 5 | Washers | 360 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 293 |
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 | 23.7% | 4,112 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.4% | 3,720 |
| 3 | Suspension | 20.8% | 3,612 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.8% | 830 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 645 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 421 |
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 | 4,986 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 9,539 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,589 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 245 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,506 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 3,514 | 15.4% |
| 2023 | 3,493 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 3,458 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 3,397 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 595
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.1% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.1% 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 595s pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 17,368 2016 Abarth 595 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Abarth 595?
Suspension, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2016 595 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,368 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.