2020 Abarth 595C — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Abarth 595C passed 89.5% of its 834 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests against 2.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, washers and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 35 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 19.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2023 against 14.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.2% | 52 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.8% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.5% | 21 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 16 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 12 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 8 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Washers | 20 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 18 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
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 | 19.3% | 161 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 130 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.0% | 50 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.7% | 39 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.1% | 9 |
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 | 688 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 135 | 17.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 273 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 256 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 299 | 14.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 595C
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.2% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (2.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2020 Abarth 595Cs pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 834 2020 Abarth 595C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Abarth 595C?
Tyres, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by visibility (2.8%).
Does the 2020 595C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.7% in the 0-30k band to 17.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 834 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.