2007 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 940 MOT tests, the 2007 Fiat 500 recorded a 70.0% pass rate. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.2%) and suspension (17.1%) 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 pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 76 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2007 500 fails 25.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 27.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 162 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.1% | 161 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 75 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 65 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 63 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.5% | 61 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 76 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 48 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 46 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 46 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 45 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.3% | 341 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.9% | 253 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.6% | 241 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 142 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 125 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.0% | 113 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 108 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 441 | 29.5% |
| 90-120k | 292 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 54 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 878 | 30.1% |
| Diesel | 62 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 206 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 223 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 193 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 172 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 146 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.1% 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.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 2007 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
70.0% of the 940 2007 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Fiat 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by suspension (17.1%).
Does the 2007 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 940 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.