2009 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 130,758 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Fiat 500, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.7% was below the average for city cars of a similar age (74.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.3% in the 150k+ group versus 18.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.6% | 20,421 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 17,102 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 15,894 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 7,050 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 6,178 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 6,160 |
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 | 10,887 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 8,107 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 7,372 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6,842 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 4,984 |
| 6 | Washers | 4,289 |
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 | 43.3% | 56,565 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.0% | 37,914 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.3% | 26,548 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 20,854 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 13,528 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 11,202 |
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 | 5,922 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 29,395 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 53,386 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 32,306 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 7,589 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,555 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 123,991 | 28.2% |
| Diesel | 6,767 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,198 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 27,021 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 26,639 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 25,816 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 24,084 | 28.9% |
What to check before buying a 2009 500
Before buying a 2009 Fiat 500, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.6% 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 (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.2% 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 2009 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 130,758 2009 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Fiat 500?
Suspension, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.1%).
Does the 2009 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.1% in the 0-30k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 130,758 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.