2008 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,030 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Fiat 500, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.4% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (72.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.2% in the 150k+ group versus 20.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.4% | 11,678 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 10,388 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 8,652 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 4,500 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,319 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 3,670 |
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 | 5,640 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,402 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 4,315 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 4,134 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,335 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 2,848 |
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 | 41.9% | 31,836 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 21,927 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.5% | 17,898 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 11,984 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 8,036 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 7,642 |
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 | 2,915 | 20.1% |
| 30-60k | 13,676 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 29,832 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 22,070 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 5,825 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,122 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 65,844 | 28.4% |
| Diesel | 10,186 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,350 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 16,247 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 15,509 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 14,714 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 13,210 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 500
Before buying a 2008 Fiat 500, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.4% 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 (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 2008 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 76,030 2008 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Fiat 500?
Suspension, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.7%).
Does the 2008 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,030 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.