2012 Fiat 500C — MOT failures & pass rate
14,180 MOT tests on the 2012 Fiat 500C are in this dataset, and 75.7% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 20.9% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,529 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.0% in the 0-30k band and 28.2% in the 120-150k band, a 13.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.4% | 2,037 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 1,425 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.6% | 794 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 665 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 506 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 484 |
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 | 1,529 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 1,012 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 449 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 382 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 359 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 354 |
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 | 36.5% | 5,182 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 4,065 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.5% | 2,482 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.3% | 1,605 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.4% | 1,052 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 940 |
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 | 1,300 | 15.0% |
| 30-60k | 6,460 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 4,977 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,228 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 195 | 28.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,057 | 24.2% |
| Diesel | 123 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,850 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 2,846 | 23.3% |
| 2023 | 2,814 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 2,856 | 25.3% |
| 2025 | 2,814 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 500C
On a 2012 500C, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (14.4% 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 (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
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 2012 Fiat 500Cs pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 14,180 2012 Fiat 500C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Fiat 500C?
Suspension, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.1%).
Does the 2012 500C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.0% in the 0-30k band to 28.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,180 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.