Abarth 695 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Abarth 695 appears in 2,733 MOT tests spanning model years 2010–2023, and 90.5% of them passed. That is 2.4 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.6% once past 60-90k — 2.0× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 16.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every 695 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 77 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 60 | 93.3% | 6.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 139 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2017 | 649 | 89.2% | 10.8% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 1,448 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 247 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 58 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 101 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 72 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.2% | 59 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 58 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 52 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 44 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 15 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 7 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 40 |
| 3 | Washers | 34 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 30 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 29 |
| 6 | Wipers | 26 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
| 8 | Catalyst emissions | 24 |
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 | 16.9% | 461 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 399 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 220 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.0% | 164 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 64 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 35 |
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 | 1,911 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 714 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 14.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 496 | 6.9% |
| 2022 | 569 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 534 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 546 | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 588 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a Abarth 695
- Tyres (3.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (2.2% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Abarth 695?
90.5% of the 2,733 Abarth 695 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.5% fail rate, across model years 2010–2023.
What does the Abarth 695 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect 695 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 14.6% for 60-90k, a 7.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,733 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.