2023 Fiat 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 768 MOT tests, the 2023 Fiat 500 recorded a 94.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as city cars of a similar age (4.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.6%) and lighting & signalling (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 12.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 28 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 11 |
| 3 | Suspension | 0.8% | 6 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 5 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 3 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.3% | 2 |
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 | 5 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 4 |
| 3 | Washers | 4 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 3 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 3 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 3 |
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 | 12.1% | 93 |
| 2 | Suspension | 1.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.8% | 14 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.4% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 5 |
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 | 474 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 294 | 6.8% |
What to check before buying a 2023 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.6% 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 (1.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (0.8% 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.
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 2023 Fiat 500s pass their MOT?
94.8% of the 768 2023 Fiat 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Fiat 500?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.4%).
Does the 2023 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 6.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 768 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.