2020 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Fiat 500 passed 91.1% of its 45,908 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than city cars of a similar age, which fail at 7.6%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.2%) and visibility (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 982 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.4% in the 0-30k band and 16.5% in the 60-90k band, a 9.1-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.5% in 2021 to 10.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.2% | 2,403 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,415 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 1,251 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 634 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 574 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 144 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 982 |
| 2 | Washers | 748 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 707 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 646 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 361 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 321 |
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 | 21.8% | 9,995 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.2% | 5,162 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.3% | 2,409 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.9% | 1,771 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.1% | 952 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 348 |
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 | 34,407 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 10,704 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 775 | 16.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 45,525 | 8.9% |
| Hybrid | 377 | 9.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 497 | 5.0% |
| 2023 | 14,864 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 15,305 | 8.7% |
| 2025 | 15,202 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2020 500
On a 2020 500, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.2% 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 (3.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2020 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
91.1% of the 45,908 2020 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Fiat 500?
Tyres, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2020 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 45,908 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.