2014 Fiat 500C — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 14,472 MOT tests, the 2014 Fiat 500C recorded a 79.4% pass rate. City cars of a similar age fail 17.4% of the time, so this is 3.2pp 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 11.7% of all tests — 4.5 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 1,156 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.0% once past 120-150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.7% | 1,696 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 1,049 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.5% | 802 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 521 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.5% | 500 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 311 |
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 | 1,156 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 961 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 468 |
| 4 | Wipers | 331 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 324 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 308 |
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 | 30.7% | 4,438 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.4% | 4,108 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.4% | 2,374 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.8% | 986 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 956 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 599 |
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 | 2,665 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 7,881 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 3,308 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 509 | 28.3% |
| 120-150k | 50 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,330 | 20.6% |
| Diesel | 142 | 21.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,790 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 2,865 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 2,909 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 2,991 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 2,917 | 22.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 500C
On a 2014 500C, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.7% 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 (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 2014 Fiat 500Cs pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 14,472 2014 Fiat 500C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Fiat 500C?
Suspension, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.2%).
Does the 2014 500C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,472 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.