2017 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
131,084 MOT tests on the 2017 Fiat 500 are in this dataset, and 85.6% of them passed. Against city cars of a similar age (11.7% fail rate), the 2017 500 comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.6%) and tyres (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and shock absorbers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 5,595 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.5% versus 9.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.6% | 7,298 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.9% | 6,369 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 6,163 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 4,377 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.2% | 4,177 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 1,317 |
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 | 5,595 |
| 2 | Wipers | 5,369 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 2,659 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,473 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,430 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,268 |
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% | 35,257 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.2% | 23,853 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.0% | 19,663 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 9,299 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 3,903 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 3,852 |
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 | 58,885 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 60,568 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 10,536 | 23.2% |
| 90-120k | 969 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 78 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 130,755 | 14.4% |
| Diesel | 321 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,941 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 25,775 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 26,420 | 14.8% |
| 2024 | 26,681 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 27,267 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 500
On a 2017 500, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.6% 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.
- Tyres (4.9% 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 (4.7% 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 2017 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 131,084 2017 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Fiat 500?
Suspension, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.9%).
Does the 2017 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 131,084 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.