2009 Fiat 500C — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,503 MOT tests, the 2009 Fiat 500C recorded a 71.3% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 25.8% of the time, so this is 2.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (15.0%) and lighting & signalling (13.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, rbt (sp) and pins and bushes — shock absorbers alone was recorded 455 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 29.5% versus 17.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 43.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 823 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 767 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.7% | 642 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 303 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.8% | 265 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 231 |
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 | 455 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 345 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 290 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 260 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 219 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 189 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.4% | 2,390 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 1,578 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.0% | 1,213 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 885 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 646 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 492 |
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 | 306 | 17.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,599 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,095 | 30.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,170 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 279 | 34.1% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,099 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 404 | 31.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,119 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 1,127 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 1,120 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 1,083 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 1,054 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 500C
On a 2009 500C, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2009 Fiat 500Cs pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 5,503 2009 Fiat 500C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Fiat 500C?
Suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.9%).
Does the 2009 500C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,503 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.