2016 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Fiat 500 passed 81.8% of its 189,313 recorded MOT tests. Against city cars of a similar age (13.7% fail rate), the 2016 500 comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 10.5% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, pins and bushes and wipers — shock absorbers alone was recorded 13,223 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.5% | 19,916 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 9,506 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.5% | 8,504 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 6,978 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 6,383 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 2,367 |
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 | 13,223 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 8,198 |
| 3 | Wipers | 6,830 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 6,126 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 4,333 |
| 6 | Washers | 3,756 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.9% | 50,828 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 40,548 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.0% | 36,045 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 11,832 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 8,303 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 6,163 |
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 | 63,440 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 99,392 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 23,570 | 25.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,530 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 224 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 70 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 188,929 | 18.2% |
| Diesel | 374 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,176 | 14.0% |
| 2022 | 37,308 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 38,118 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 38,472 | 20.4% |
| 2025 | 39,239 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2016 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.5% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2016 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 189,313 2016 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat 500?
Suspension, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2016 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 189,313 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.