2022 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
13,447 MOT tests on the 2022 Fiat 500 are in this dataset, and 93.6% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail at 5.8%, so the 2022 500 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.3%) and lighting & signalling (2.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 242 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.0% versus 5.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.3% | 576 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 310 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 244 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 75 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 63 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.2% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 242 |
| 2 | Washers | 187 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 142 |
| 4 | Wipers | 86 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 51 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 50 |
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 | 19.6% | 2,641 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.7% | 501 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.5% | 475 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 251 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 178 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.5% | 73 |
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 | 11,190 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,221 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 30 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,233 | 6.4% |
| Hybrid | 204 | 7.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 519 | 4.8% |
| 2025 | 12,916 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2022 500
On a 2022 500, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.8% 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 2022 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
93.6% of the 13,447 2022 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Fiat 500?
Tyres, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).
Does the 2022 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,447 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.