2018 Abarth 595 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,128 MOT tests, the 2018 Abarth 595 recorded an 87.7% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 9.7% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.7%) and suspension (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, shock absorbers and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 619 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.9% versus 9.2%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.7% | 938 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.6% | 718 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 616 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 578 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 571 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 249 |
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 | 619 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 519 |
| 3 | Wipers | 383 |
| 4 | Washers | 306 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 295 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 272 |
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 | 20.3% | 4,089 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 4,036 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 2,293 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 871 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 499 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 361 |
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 | 11,581 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 7,582 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 888 | 21.2% |
| 90-120k | 70 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,016 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 4,027 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 4,031 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 4,002 | 14.7% |
| 2025 | 4,052 | 15.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 595
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- 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.
- Suspension (3.6% 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 (3.1% 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 2018 Abarth 595s pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 20,128 2018 Abarth 595 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Abarth 595?
Tyres, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by suspension (3.6%).
Does the 2018 595 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,128 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.