2015 Fiat 500C — MOT failures & pass rate
15,926 MOT tests on the 2015 Fiat 500C are in this dataset, and 79.5% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 15.6% of the time, so this is 4.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 12.3% of tests against 5.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, pins and bushes and wipers — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,580 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.4% in the 0-30k band and 36.4% in the 120-150k band, a 23.0-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.3% | 1,964 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.9% | 941 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 923 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 586 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.4% | 548 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 287 |
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 | 1,580 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 788 |
| 3 | Wipers | 460 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 372 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 369 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 317 |
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 | 29.2% | 4,646 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.5% | 4,386 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.5% | 2,631 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 1,067 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 851 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 550 |
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 | 3,967 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 8,669 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,831 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 371 | 32.6% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,877 | 20.6% |
| Diesel | 49 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,028 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 3,115 | 18.2% |
| 2023 | 3,212 | 20.7% |
| 2024 | 3,245 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 3,326 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 500C
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.3% 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.
- Tyres (5.9% 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 (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2015 Fiat 500Cs pass their MOT?
79.5% of the 15,926 2015 Fiat 500C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Fiat 500C?
Suspension, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.9%).
Does the 2015 500C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 36.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,926 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.