2016 Fiat 500C — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Fiat 500C passed 82.9% of its 13,248 recorded MOT tests. City cars of a similar age fail 13.7% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 9.5% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, pins and bushes and wipers — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,145 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.3% once past 90-120k — 2.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 9.5% | 1,261 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 664 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.0% | 534 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 494 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 399 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 140 |
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 | 1,145 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 474 |
| 3 | Wipers | 460 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 281 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 240 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 219 |
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 | 27.0% | 3,572 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.4% | 3,095 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.1% | 2,658 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 781 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 516 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 316 |
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 | 4,943 | 11.2% |
| 30-60k | 6,671 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,416 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 191 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,206 | 17.1% |
| Diesel | 42 | 19.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,533 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 2,624 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 2,666 | 16.9% |
| 2024 | 2,671 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 2,754 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 500C
On a 2016 500C, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (9.5% 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 (5.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2016 Fiat 500Cs pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 13,248 2016 Fiat 500C MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Fiat 500C?
Suspension, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2016 500C get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 0-30k band to 29.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,248 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.