2013 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 208,601 MOT tests, the 2013 Fiat 500 recorded a 78.0% pass rate. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.8%) and lighting & signalling (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 15,207 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.9% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 16.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.0% of the time against 22.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.8% | 24,598 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 20,752 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 11,351 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 10,646 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 8,311 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 6,106 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 15,207 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 12,366 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8,177 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5,983 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 5,875 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 5,558 |
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 | 32.4% | 67,653 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.8% | 60,108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.5% | 36,479 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 24,604 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 16,396 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 12,881 |
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 | 19,288 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 99,217 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 72,387 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 15,478 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,699 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 272 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 206,846 | 22.0% |
| Diesel | 1,755 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40,880 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 41,884 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 42,203 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 42,244 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 41,390 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2013 500
On a 2013 500, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
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 2013 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 208,601 2013 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Fiat 500?
Suspension, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.0%).
Does the 2013 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 208,601 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.