2008 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
76,105 MOT tests on the 2008 Fiat 500 are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2008 500 comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.4%) and lighting & signalling (13.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — shock absorbers alone was recorded 5,647 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.2% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.4% of the time against 29.6% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.4% | 11,691 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 10,404 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 8,662 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 4,506 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 4,320 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 3,675 |
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 | 5,647 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,408 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 4,323 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 4,139 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,339 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 2,850 |
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% | 31,862 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 21,955 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.5% | 17,911 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 11,993 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 8,050 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 7,648 |
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 | 13,714 | 25.2% |
| 60-90k | 29,856 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 22,080 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 5,827 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,123 | 31.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 65,911 | 28.4% |
| Diesel | 10,194 | 29.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,362 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 16,263 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 15,530 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 14,724 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 13,226 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2008 500
On a 2008 500, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 76,105 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 76,105 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.